JP2002056267A - Service information providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a service information providing method capable of publishing latest service information on a web page while suppressing the burden of work on the side of store to a minimum and of quickly providing that service information to the owner of a portable communication terminal at low cost. SOLUTION: In the method for providing information on services to be respectively originally provided by plural stores 19 to a terminal owner 18, who reads the web page by accessing a web server 12 through the Internet 17 while using a portable communication terminal 15, this method is provided with a step for waiting in a state capable of always accepting the registration request of service information from each of stores 19 and a step for registering the service information on the web page immediately after receiving in place of the store 19 corresponding to receiving of the registration request.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is carried out independently in each store, and provides information on services that change with the passage of time, so that the owner of a portable communication terminal such as a portable telephone can browse in real time. The present invention relates to a method for providing service information as described above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as advertisements for restaurants to acquire customers by various types of businesses, such as restaurants, newspapers, flyers, magazines, radios, televisions, and other media are used to transmit information on products and the like to consumers. In general, there is a problem with any advertising medium. For example,
In an advertisement method using newspapers, flyers, magazines, and the like, since it takes time from an advertisement publication request to distribution, advertisement contents are limited. Immediateness (real-timeness) is required for various services that change according to days, time zones, and the like, but it is difficult to publish such advertisements. Also radio,
Although the above-mentioned problems can be avoided to some extent in the advertising method using a television or the like, the advertising fee is generally expensive and the procedure is complicated. hard.

[0003] On the other hand, with the spread of the Internet in recent years, an advertising method using this as an advertising medium has been put to practical use. That is, there is a method in which a web page containing the contents of an advertisement is created and registered in a web server. This advertising method is excellent both in terms of immediacy and cost. In addition, with the recent increase in the number of people browsing web pages triggered by the release of mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones that can be connected to the Internet, high advertising effects can be expected.

[0004]

However, in order to create a web page, specialized knowledge and techniques are required.
Because of this, for many shopkeepers and clerks who are outsiders,
First, you have to learn how to create web pages, and it takes time to do unfamiliar tasks.
Since a web page creation task is added in addition to the usual task (task), the load (burden) associated with the task increases. In particular, when trying to post the latest service information that requires immediacy on a web page, the load (burden) is further increased, and there is a problem that the original business may be hindered.

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention publishes the latest service information on a web page while minimizing the burden of business on the store side, and transmits the service information to the owner of the portable communication terminal via the Internet. And a service information providing method that can be provided immediately and at low cost.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a service information providing method, wherein a plurality of terminal owners who access a web server through the Internet to view a web page using a portable communication terminal are provided with a plurality of services. A method in which stores provide information on services individually performed by the stores, wherein the store waits in a state where it can always receive a request for registration of service information from each store, and, in response to the reception of the registration request, acts on behalf of the store. And registering the service information in the web page immediately after the reception.

[0007] Here, the "portable communication terminal" refers to a mobile phone, a PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) terminal, or a portable information terminal called a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance). Refers to a small terminal device that can be viewed and is portable. In addition, “stores” refer to stores and facilities of various industries that provide services such as the real estate business, leasing business of accommodation facilities, and the entertainment business such as movies, as well as the business of selling products and eating and drinking business. I do.

[0008] Therefore, according to the above invention, information relating to services that each store independently performs is registered on the Internet web page, and the service information is provided to a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone. Thus, an unspecified number of terminal holders can browse the service information of the shop, and a high advertisement effect is exhibited. In addition, registration of service information on a web page is performed by a server administrator or the like having specialized knowledge.
In other words, the store only needs to send the service information requesting the publication, and the service information is immediately registered on the web page by the server administrator or the like, and can be browsed by the mobile communication terminal. Further, a server administrator or the like responsible for registering service information is on standby so that a request can be received all day, and the store can send service information and request publication at any time.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the service information providing method according to the first aspect, wherein the service information registration request is received by facsimile or electronic mail.

[0010] According to the above invention, the store immediately transmits the service information by the facsimile or electronic mail, which is a familiar and simple communication means, without affecting the original business of the store.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the service information providing method according to the first or second aspect, wherein the service information includes information on a service set only in a predetermined time zone.

[0012] According to the above invention, the service information is immediately posted on the web page and can be browsed by the terminal owner who is a consumer, so that the information relates to a service whose time is limited. However, the terminal owner can obtain the latest service information almost in real time, and the situation in which the terminal holder misses the opportunity to receive the service is avoided as much as possible.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the service information providing method according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the service information of each of the stores is classified at least by district and by industry. And displayed hierarchically on the screen of the portable communication terminal.

According to the present invention, the information of each store is stored in the web server in a state where the information is classified at least by district and by business type. Therefore, even if the number of registered stores is large, when a device owner browses the web page,
By specifying the district and the type of business at each level, the number of shops is reduced.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a service information providing system to which a service information providing method of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing from reception of service information to registration in the service information providing system. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of a service information providing process in the service information providing system, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a hierarchical structure of a web page displayed on the mobile communication terminal in the service information providing system. .

As shown in FIG. 1, a service information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of stores 19 as service information transmission sources, an agent 11 for providing service information, and And three stages with the terminal holder 18. The stores 19 each have a communication means 16 by facsimile or electronic mail. The agency 11 includes a web server 12 connected to the Internet 17, and performs a task of creating a web page in the web server 12 by a server administrator 20. The terminal holders 18 use the mobile communication terminals 15 to access the Internet 17 through the Internet connection service provided by the mobile communication service provider 21 of each mobile communication terminal 15.
It is possible to connect to

Next, the specific contents of the service information providing system will be described. When the service information is provided by the present method, the store 19 makes a contract with the service information providing agent 11 and registers basic information such as its location and business type in advance. And each store A,
B,... X include a specific request method by the communication means 16,
For example, a facsimile transmission number and an e-mail transmission address are notified.

In the service information providing method of the present embodiment, the terminal owner 18 who accesses the web server 12 of the agency 11 through the Internet 17 and browses the web page using the portable communication terminal 15 is provided with a plurality of stores 1.
9 provides information on services independently performed. These service information are first stored in each of the stores A, B,.
Communication means 16 consisting of facsimile or electronic mail
Is sent to the server administrator 20.

The agency 11 performs the processing according to the routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S10, the server administrator 20 checks each store A,
B,... Stand by in a state in which service information transmitted from X can be received. In step S11, when service information requesting publication is received from each of the stores A, B,... X, the process immediately proceeds to the next step S12 to start the registration procedure.

In step S12, the server administrator 2
0 confirms the information of the store 19. Specifically, it checks basic information such as the location and business type of each of the stores A, B,... X registered in advance, and checks whether the transmitted information is genuine. If the information is genuine, the process proceeds to the next step S13. If the service information is not genuine, the registration procedure is stopped and the process returns to the standby state of step S10. Then, step S1
In 3, the server administrator 20 inputs the service information requested to be posted on the web page while adjusting the appearance of the service information. At this time, the service information is classified according to the location and the type of business of the shop 19 and registered in the web server 12.

As described above, the store 19 can publish information on services to be performed on the web page of the web server 12 only by using the communication means 16 such as facsimile or electronic mail. Further, since this service information is posted on the web page shortly after the information posting request from the store 19, the owner 18 of the mobile communication terminal 15
By browsing the web page through the Internet connection service provided by the mobile communication carrier 21, the service information can be obtained almost in real time.

The procedure for browsing the service information registered in the web server 12 from the portable communication terminal 15 is performed according to the routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S31, a predetermined URL is input from the mobile communication terminal 15, and the web server 12 is accessed. Then, in step S21, the web server 12 transmits a web page representing the region selection screen R1.
Then, the mobile communication terminal 15 determines in step S32
The region selection screen R1 is displayed on the display screen, and input from the terminal holder 18 is awaited. On the region selection screen R1, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a message prompting an input is displayed, along with a district name and a district number assigned to each district.

Next, when the district number is input to the portable communication terminal 15, the web server 12 transmits a web page representing the type of business selection screen R2 corresponding to the selected district in step S22. Then, in step S33, the mobile communication terminal 15 displays an industry selection screen R2 on the display screen thereof, and waits for an input by the terminal holder 18. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a message for prompting input is displayed on the business selection screen R2, along with a classification name of the business and a business number assigned to each business.

Subsequently, when the business type number is input to the portable communication terminal 15, the web server 12 transmits a web page showing a store name selection screen R3 belonging to the selected business type in step S23. Then, in step S34, the mobile communication terminal 15 displays a store name selection screen R on its display screen.
3 is displayed, and input by the terminal holder 18 is waited. On the store name selection screen R3, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a message prompting an input, a store name of a store belonging to the business type, and a store name number assigned to each store are displayed.

Further, when the store name number is input to the portable communication terminal 15, the web server 12 transmits a web page representing the store-specific service information screen R4 relating to the selected store in step S24. And the mobile communication terminal 1
5 displays a store-specific service information screen R4 on the display screen in step S35. On the store-specific service information screen R4, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the store name and service information of the store, specifically, "Provide ~ at a price of ~" or "Current The service status at a specific time such as “can be provided” is displayed.

The service information provided here includes:
A variety of content for different industries is possible. To give some specific examples, for example, in the case where the type of business of the store requesting publication is a restaurant, menu information that changes every day, such as the content of lunch on the day, can be published. In the case of a supermarket that handles fresh foods, when the purchase schedule is suddenly changed due to unseasonable weather or transportation conditions, it may be necessary to change the content announced in advance through newspaper inserts etc. In addition, the information can be provided to consumers in real time. In addition, in the case of accommodation facility rental business such as inns, if you post information on vacant rooms on the day,
If a vacancy occurs due to a sudden cancellation, etc., additional guests can be recruited.

The web pages R1 to R4 are hierarchically displayed as shown in FIG. 4, and are designed to be easily used by the terminal owner 18 who browses. In addition, since it is possible to proceed to the screen of the next layer or to return to the screen of the previous layer, for example, after examining information of a certain shop from the shop-specific service information screen R4, another shop of the same business type in the same district If you also want to check the information about the store, select the previous store name selection screen R
It is sufficient to return to 3 and select another store name, and there is no need to start over from the first screen.

As described above, the service information providing method of the present embodiment provides the latest service information to the consumer terminal owner by means of the Internet having a high advertising effect while minimizing the burden on the shop. Can be provided. Further, the service information providing method according to the present embodiment is highly convenient for the terminal owner. That is, since the terminal information is registered by being classified according to the district and the type of business, the terminal holder can easily retrieve the service information required by each terminal. For example, even in unfamiliar land, it is possible to find a restaurant that meets the demand and to know the vacancy information of the accommodation facility.

This embodiment has the following features in addition to the items described above. (A) Web pages for mobile communication terminals, especially mobile phones, have different specifications than web pages viewed by computers. This is because mobile phones have severe hardware restrictions such as differences in the size and number of display screens, processing capabilities, and input devices, and web pages must be specially designed for mobile phones. In addition, there are differences in specifications between mobile phone models, and a web page designed for a specific model of mobile phone may not be displayed as intended on another model of mobile phone. In the present embodiment, a server administrator or the like having specialized knowledge can create a web page with an appropriate design in consideration of these points.

(B) The operation is simple and economically burdensome even for so-called "information weak" people who have no means of using the Internet by computer because the operation is difficult or economical. Useful information can be provided by a small number of mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones. As described above, it is possible to notify the service information to the terminal holder having a wider base than the computer holder, and a greater advertisement effect can be expected.

(C) Since many pieces of service information are managed in a unified manner, for a terminal owner who is a consumer,
This will increase the chances of reaching desired information from many options. In other words, if each store has created its own web page, many URLs have different URLs
And it is difficult to reach the target information. However, this is not the case with a web page configured as in the present embodiment, which is highly convenient for the terminal owner.

(D) An effect similar to that of an Internet advertisement can be obtained. For example, the cost can be lower than the conventional advertising means. In addition, by reporting the access record (the number of accesses / time, etc.) of a web page to a store that has posted information on the web page at any time, the store can confirm the effect of advertising on objective data. You can benefit from the characteristics of the Internet, such as the interactive nature of information.

(E) It is possible to construct a web page utilizing a function unique to a portable communication terminal. For example, if the mobile communication terminal is a mobile phone, registering the phone number of the store as the link destination allows you to call the store directly by simply clicking the number on the web page Can be granted.

Incidentally, the service information providing method of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be modified as follows, for example.

(1) The type of business providing the service information and the contents of the service information are not necessarily limited to those described above. Stores that have difficulty creating their own web pages should use the service information provision method of the present invention to provide information on all services in their respective industries to mobile communication terminal owners via the Internet. Can be.

(2) Service information provided by a web page is not limited to text information. For example, other information such as an image and a sound may be provided in response to a function improvement of a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone expected in the future.

(3) The web server does not need to be located in the immediate vicinity of the server administrator who receives the information posting request from the store. For example, a server administrator who stands by at a remote place may register information in a web server through a communication line such as the Internet.

[0038]

As described above, according to the service information providing method according to the first aspect of the present invention, the shop can store the service information independently performed on the web page while minimizing the burden on the business. The service information can be provided to the mobile communication terminal holder immediately and at low cost through the Internet, and a high advertisement effect can be exhibited. In addition, the terminal owner who is a consumer can easily obtain the latest information at any time by using the mobile communication terminal even when going out.

According to the service information providing method according to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, the store requests the service information to be posted on a web page by a communication means which is conventionally used. Can be.

According to the service information providing method of the third aspect, in addition to the effects of the first or second aspect, the latest service information requiring immediacy is posted on a web page. By doing so, the information can be provided to the terminal holder who is the consumer before the validity period of the information has elapsed, and a situation in which the terminal holder loses the opportunity to receive the service is avoided as much as possible.

According to the service information providing method of the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3, the terminal owner who browses a web page can achieve the object. You can easily access the information you want.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a service information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing from reception of service information to registration in a service information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of service information provision processing in a service information provision system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a hierarchical structure of a web page displayed on the mobile communication terminal in the service information providing system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Agency 12 Web Server 15 Portable Communication Terminal 16 Communication Means 17 Internet 18 Terminal Holder 19 Store

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) G06F 17/30 110 G06F 17/30 110F 230 230Z

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method of using a mobile communication terminal to access a web server via the Internet and browse a web page to provide terminal owners with information on services individually performed by a plurality of shops, wherein Waiting for a service information registration request to be always accepted; and, in response to the registration request being accepted, acting on behalf of the shop and immediately registering the service information on the web page after the acceptance. A service information providing method, comprising: 2. The service information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the registration request for the service information is received by facsimile or electronic mail. 3. The service information providing method according to claim 1, wherein the service information includes information on a service set only in a predetermined time zone. 4. The service information of each shop is classified at least according to a district and an industry, and is hierarchically displayed on a screen of the portable communication terminal.
The service information providing method according to any one of the above.