JP2002108744A - Network system, web server, and information providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user and an information provider to easily and properly obtain useful information. SOLUTION: The web server 10 has a contents holding part 150 which holds contents provided by multiple information providers, an indication reception part 110 which receives an indication sent from a terminal, a contents transmission part 122 which sends contents to the terminal when the indication is a request to send the contents, a history information recording part 160 which records history information on the indication, and a history information presentation part 130 which edits and presents the history information for the information providers. All the information providers share the editing history information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a network system, a web server, and an information providing method. In particular, the present invention relates to a network system having a terminal and a web server for providing information to the terminal, a web server usable in the network system, and an information providing method usable in the network system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rapid spread of the Internet, users can access web servers scattered around the world from their own terminals and acquire information using a dedicated browser. And many companies are competing to publish compelling web pages to disseminate information around the world.

[0003]

Conventionally, although statistical information such as the number of accesses to one's own web page can be obtained, statistical information about a web page of another company cannot be obtained. Therefore, it was difficult to objectively judge the popularity of the company's web pages.

[0004] In addition, although the market trend of the company's products can be searched from the statistical information such as the number of accesses to the advertisement of the company's products, the market trends of the products of other companies and products of different industries cannot be known. Was.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a network system, a web server, and an information providing method which can solve the above-mentioned problems. This object is achieved by a combination of features described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous embodiments of the present invention.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a network system according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a network system having a terminal and a web server for providing information to the terminal, The web server is
A content holding unit for holding content provided by a plurality of information providers, an instruction receiving unit for receiving an instruction transmitted from the terminal, and transmitting the content to the terminal when the instruction is a content transmission request A content transmitting unit, a history information recording unit that records history information of the instruction, and a history information presenting unit that edits the history information and presents the edited history information to the information provider; And a content receiving unit that receives the content transmitted from the web server.

A web server according to a second embodiment of the present invention is a web server for providing information to a predetermined terminal via a network, and a content holding unit for holding content provided by a plurality of information providers. An instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction transmitted from the terminal; a content transmitting unit that transmits the content to the terminal when the instruction is a content transmission request; and a history information recording unit that records history information of the instruction. And a history information presentation unit that edits the history information and presents the edited history information to the information provider.

[0008] The plurality of information providers include sponsor companies belonging to a plurality of different industries, and the history information presenting unit issues an instruction to the information provider to contents provided by the sponsor company belonging to a different industry from the information provider. May be presented.

[0009] The history information presenting section may generate edit history information by totalizing history information of instructions transmitted from a plurality of terminals.

[0010] A method according to a third aspect of the present invention is an information providing method for providing information to a predetermined terminal, comprising the steps of: receiving, from the terminal, an instruction for content provided by a plurality of information providers; Recording an instruction as history information; and presenting the history information to an information provider.

Note that the above summary of the present invention does not list all of the necessary features of the present invention, and a sub-combination of these features may also be an invention.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the present invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and are described in the embodiments. Not all combinations of features are essential to the solution of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This network system has a web server (WEB server) 10 and a plurality of terminals 20. Web server 10 and a plurality of terminals 20
Is the Internet 50 as an example of a network.
Connected through.

The network system can be used for an Internet service provider (ISP) business. That is, Internet connection server, DNS
A server, a mail server, and the like are further provided to provide an Internet connection service to a user who has contracted with the ISP. As a part of the service, the contract user is permitted to access the web server 10 free of charge. The web server 10 distributes contents provided by a plurality of information providers (sponsor companies) that have contracted with the ISP business owner, so that each information provider can operate its own homepage.

In the present embodiment, streaming information, which is time-series data, is mainly distributed. By distributing video and audio as streaming information, the web server can provide the same service as a broadcasting station that distributes television programs. The web server provides a service as if a plurality of broadcasting stations were merged in order to collectively distribute the contents of a plurality of sponsor companies belonging to different industries. Furthermore, since information such as the rating of the content of another information provider can be presented to each information provider, an advantage that cannot be realized by a single website can be provided. Of course, the content includes information such as a web page, an image, and sound, and is not limited to streaming information.

The terminal 20 has an instruction transmitting unit for transmitting an instruction from a user to the web server 10 and a content receiving unit for receiving the content transmitted from the web server 10. The instruction transmitting unit transmits a user instruction input from an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard to the web server 10.
Send to The content receiving unit receives various contents transmitted from the web server 10, such as web pages, images, sounds, and streaming information. The received content is reproduced by a dedicated browser provided in the terminal 20.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a web server according to the embodiment of the present invention. The web server 10 mainly includes an authentication unit 100, an instruction receiving unit 110, a processing unit 120, a history information presenting unit 130, a user information holding unit 140, a content holding unit 150, a history information recording unit 160, Having. This server functions as a portal site that collects various contents provided by a plurality of information providers, particularly various streaming information.

The authentication unit 100 includes a user information holding unit 140
Authentication of the user who has requested access to the web server 10 is performed with reference to the user ID and the password stored in the web server 10. When the user is authenticated, the web server 1
0 is performed. At the time of the first access, a user registration screen is presented to the terminal 20 and input of user information is requested. When the user inputs necessary information and transmits it to the web server 10, the web server 10 issues a user ID by the CGI function, associates the input information with the issued user ID, and associates the input information with the issued user ID.
To be stored.

The instruction receiving section 110 receives an instruction transmitted from the terminal 20. The terminal 20 transmits instructions such as an access request for content, an icon processing request such as registration, deletion, and movement of an icon, and an access request for a CM. The instruction receiving unit 110 requests the processing unit 120 to perform processing according to the content of the instruction.

The processing unit 120 includes the content transmitting unit 12
2, including the icon processing unit 124 and the CM processing unit 126, and performs the processing requested by the instruction receiving unit 110. The content transmission unit 122 reads the content for which the access request has been made from the content holding unit 150 and transmits the content to the requesting terminal 20. At this time, the usage history of the content is stored in the content usage history holding unit 162. Examples of the content include a web page, image information, audio information, and streaming information.

The icon processing section 124 performs processing such as registration, deletion, and movement of icons displayed on the screen of the terminal 20. The icon has a function of transmitting an access request for the content, as will be described later, and is displayed on the screen of the terminal 20 to facilitate access to the content. When receiving an instruction to register a new icon, the icon processing unit 124 records history information in the icon history holding unit 164, newly generates a web page including the new icon, and Send to When receiving the instruction to delete the existing icon, the icon processing unit 124
64, the history information is recorded, a web page excluding the existing icons is newly generated, and transmitted to the request source terminal 20. When receiving the instruction to move the position of the existing icon, the icon processing unit 124 records the history information in the icon history holding unit 164, newly generates a web page in which the position of the icon has been moved, and It transmits to the original terminal 20.

The CM processing unit 126 reads out the CM for which the access request has been made from the content holding unit 150 and transmits the CM to the requesting terminal 20. At this time, the CM history holding unit 16
6 stores the usage history of the CM. The CM may be a banner advertisement, a web page including advertisement information, or streaming information.

The history information presenting section 130 edits the history information recorded in the history information recording section 160 and presents it to the information provider. The history information editing unit 132 compiles the history information of the instructions transmitted from the plurality of terminals 20 at a predetermined timing, shapes the information into a format that is easy for the information provider to use, and generates the editing history information. The aggregation of the history information may be performed at predetermined time intervals, may be performed on a daily basis, or may be performed on a weekly basis. An example of edit history information is
This will be described with reference to FIG.

[0024] The history information presenting section 130 provides the information provider with:
The editing history information is presented so as to include the history information of the instruction for the content of the sponsor company belonging to a different business type from the information provider. Therefore, the information provider only needs to provide the content to the web server 10 and obtain not only the editing history information of the instruction for the content itself but also the editing history information of the instruction for the content provided by the sponsor company of another business type. Can be. As a result, the information provider can obtain information on what content is supported by the user in real time, and reflect the information on his / her own content creation. Also, from the information on what kind of product CM is received by the user,
You can judge current market trends. The editing history information may be presented to the information provider online via a network, or may be presented to the information provider offline.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the content holding unit 150. The content holding unit 150 stores various contents provided by the web server 10. The content holding unit 150 first includes a portal site 152 for various streaming information. The portal site 152
It is a top page of the web server 10 and serves as an entrance to a site 154 provided by a plurality of information providers. The content holding unit 150 further includes a site 154 of the sponsor company that is the information provider. Each site 154 includes a web page 156, an advertisement 157,
Various contents such as streaming information 158 are included. The streaming information is time-series data that is sequentially reproduced each time it is received.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the user information holding unit 140. The user information holding unit 140 stores the user ID
A column 200, a password column 202, an e-mail address column 204, a gender column 206, a date of birth column 208, a single / married column 210, a hobby column 212, and a postal code column 214 are provided. The user ID column 200 stores user identification information (user ID). The password column 202 stores a password required for user authentication. E-mail address column 204, gender column 206, date of birth column 208, single /
Married column 210, hobby column 212, and postal code column 214
Stores various attribute information of the user. Other attribute information, for example, columns such as an address and a telephone number may be provided.

For example, the record on the first line is a user ID
Is "abcd" and the attribute information of the user whose e-mail address is "tar"
o ＠ ○○. com ", gender is male, date of birth is 1970 /
01/01, married, hobby computer, zip code 1
00-xxxxxx.

FIG. 5 shows the contents use history holding unit 162.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of FIG. Content usage history holding unit 16
2 is a user ID column 220 and a content use history column 2
22. The user ID column 220 stores user identification information (user ID). The content usage history column 222 stores the usage history of the content for the user corresponding to the user ID in the user ID column 220. In the present embodiment, the content usage history column 222 stores the usage history for each content.
4 is provided. The content history column 224 has a content name column 226 for storing a content name for identifying the content, and a usage count column 228 for storing the usage count of the content.

For example, the record on the first line is the user ID
Indicates that the user who uses “1111” uses the content A seven times and uses the content B 11 times.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the icon history holding unit 164. The icon history information holding unit 164 has a user ID column 240 and an icon use history column 242. The user ID column 240 stores user identification information (user ID). The icon use history column 242 stores the icon use history of the user corresponding to the user ID in the user ID column 240. In this embodiment,
The icon usage history column 242 has a plurality of icon-based history columns 244 for storing usage history of each icon. The icon history column 244 includes an icon name column 246 for storing an icon name for identifying the icon, a use frequency column 248 for storing the number of times the icon is used, a display position column 250 for storing the display position of the icon, It has a creation date column 252 for storing the icon creation date and a deletion date column 254 for storing the icon deletion date.

For example, the record on the first line is the user ID
User "1111" uses icon A five times,
The position of the content is (100, 200), indicating that the icon is created on 00/05/01, the icon B is used 10 times, and the position of the content is (50, 50). , The content is 00/0
It shows that it was created on 5/01 and deleted on 00/05/08.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the CM history holding unit 166. The CM history storage unit 166 stores the user ID column 2
60 and a CM history column 262. User ID column 2
Reference numeral 60 stores user identification information (user ID).
The CM history column 262 is a user ID in the user ID column 260
The usage history of the CM (advertisement information) for the user corresponding to is stored. In the present embodiment, the CM history column 262
It has a plurality of CM-specific history columns 264 for storing usage histories for each CM. The CM history column 264 contains a CM for identifying the CM.
There is a CM name column 266 for storing the name of the CM, and a usage frequency column 268 for storing the number of times the CM has been used.

For example, the record on the first line is a user ID
Is "1111", the user uses CM-A three times, and C
Indicates that MC is used twice.

FIG. 8 is a processing sequence diagram showing an example of processing for recording a history of user's instructions in the network system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this network system, a web server 1
When a login request is transmitted to the user 0 (S100), the authentication unit 100 authenticates the user, and when the user is authenticated, performs a login process (S102). At this time, the menu screen of the portal site, which is the top page of the web server 10, is displayed on the terminal 20. The user operates the menu screen to transmit an instruction to the web server 10 (S10).
4). The instruction receiving unit 110 analyzes the content of the instruction transmitted from the terminal 20 and requests the processing unit 120 for necessary processing.

The instruction receiving unit 110 determines whether the instruction is a content transmission request (S106). If it is a content transmission request, the content transmission unit 122
The content usage history is registered in the content usage history storage unit 162 (S108), and the content stored in the content usage history unit 150 is transmitted to the terminal 20 (S110).
Specifically, if the content name corresponding to the instruction is not registered in the content name column 226 in the content usage history record corresponding to the user ID of the user who issued the instruction, When the content name is registered in the content name field 226 of the new content-based history field 224 and “1” is registered in the frequency field 228, while the content name corresponding to the request is registered in the content name field 226. Is added to the number in the corresponding number of times column 228.

The instruction receiving unit 110 determines whether the instruction is an icon processing request (S112). If it is an icon processing request, the icon processing unit 124 performs icon processing (S114), registers the icon history in the icon history holding unit 164 (S116), and transmits the newly generated web page to the terminal 20 (S118). . Specifically, when the instruction is to register a new icon, the icon processing unit 124 sets the icon name column 246 of the new icon history column 244 of the record associated with the user ID of the user who transmitted the instruction. And stores the requested date in the creation date column 252 of the icon-specific history column 244. If the instruction is to delete an existing icon, the icon processing unit 124 stores the current date in the deletion date column 254 of the icon-specific history column 244 specified from the user ID of the user who transmitted the instruction and the requested icon name. Store. If the instruction is to move an existing icon, the icon processing unit 124 sets the position column 250 of the icon-specific history column 244 corresponding to the requested icon name in the record associated with the user ID of the user who transmitted the instruction. Is updated based on the received moving position information.

The instruction receiving unit 110 determines whether the instruction is a CM transmission request (S120). If the request is a CM transmission request, the CM processing unit 126
6, the CM history is registered (S122), and the content stored in the content holding unit 150 is transmitted to the terminal 20 (S124). Specifically, the CM processing unit 126 sets the CM name corresponding to the request to the CM name column 2 in the record of the CM history information corresponding to the user ID of the user who issued the instruction.
If it is not registered in the CM name 66, the CM name is registered in the CM name column 266 of the new CM history column 264, and “1” is registered in the usage count column 268, while the CM name corresponding to the request is registered. Is registered in the CM name column 266, 1 is added to the number in the corresponding number-of-times column 268.

Subsequently, it is detected whether or not the user has requested logout (S126). If there is no logout request, the process returns to S104 and waits for an instruction from the user. If there is a logout request, logout processing is performed (S128).

FIG. 9 shows an example of a menu screen displayed on the screen of the terminal by the web server. Menu screen 170
Is a top page of the web server 10 and functions as a portal site for streaming information provided by a plurality of information providers. The menu screen 170 has a normal display area 171 and a toolbar 172. The normal display area 171 has an icon 178 and a trash can 179.

A predetermined input instruction for the icon 178,
For example, when a double-click operation is performed with a mouse, the terminal 20 displays an image based on predetermined streaming information. Icon 1
When a predetermined input instruction is given to 78, for example, a click operation with a mouse, a submenu 178a for displaying the name of the content is displayed. When a predetermined input instruction is given to the content menu of the submenu 178a, for example, a click operation with a mouse is performed, information based on the corresponding streaming information is displayed. Therefore, the user can easily display desired streaming information. Also, a movement instruction for the icon 178, for example,
If there is a drag operation with the mouse, the terminal 20
In addition to displaying the icon at the position based on the movement instruction, the terminal 20 transmits the user ID, the image configuration specifying information for specifying the icon, and the movement position information on the movement position to the web server 10. Thus, the user can appropriately move the image configuration to a position where the user can easily use the image configuration.

When an instruction to delete the icon 178 is given to the recycle bin 179, the icon 178 corresponding to the terminal 14 is deleted from the normal display area 171 and image configuration specifying information for specifying the icon 178 to be deleted is provided. , And the user ID of the user to the web server 10. In the present embodiment,
When the icon 178 is moved so as to overlap the recycle bin 179, the icon is accepted as a deletion instruction.

The toolbar 172 includes the management function button 17
2a, news button 172b, sports button 1
72c, a computer button 172d, a life button 172e, a business button 172f, an entertainment button 172g, and a CM button 172h.

When an instruction is input to the entertainment 172g, a pull-down menu 176 having names 176a and 176b of streaming information relating to entertainment is displayed. Name 176a,
Or, when there is an instruction input for the name 176b,
An application for streaming is executed. Then, the streaming display window 180 is displayed on the terminal 14, and the request for the streaming information input by the instruction is transmitted to the web server 10, and the web server 1
The streaming information received from 0 is sequentially output to the streaming display window 180. On the streaming display window 180, an icon registration reception button 182 for receiving an instruction to register an icon for outputting the streaming information is displayed.

News button 172b, sports button 172c, computer button 172d, life button 172e, business button 172f, and CM button 1
The case where an instruction is input to 72h is the same as the case where an instruction is input to entertainment 172g.

When an instruction is input to the management function button 172a, an about button 174a and an in button
A management pull-down menu 1 having a formation button 174b, a site recruitment button 174c, a site map button 174d, and a help button 174e.
74 is displayed. When an instruction is input to the about button 174a, a web page that provides introduction information about the information provider that provides the web page is displayed. informatio
When an instruction is input to the n button 174b,
A web page that provides information on the web page and the content is displayed.

When an instruction is input to the site recruiting button 174c, a web page for recruiting a content information provider is displayed. When an instruction is input to the site map button 174d, a structure diagram relating to contents that can be referred to from this web page is displayed. Help button 1
When an instruction is input to the web page 74e, information for providing help information on the web page or the like is displayed.

According to the icon history information, it is possible to grasp what kind of streaming information the user uses to obtain the icon, and to appropriately select an advertisement that attracts the user's interest. Also, according to the content usage history information, it is possible to grasp the streaming information that the user is interested in, and to appropriately select an advertisement that attracts the user's interest. Further, according to the advertisement history information, it is possible to grasp what kind of advertisement streaming information the user is interested in, and to appropriately select an advertisement that attracts the user's interest. In addition, when each piece of history information is used, if an advertisement is selected based on frequency information such as the number of times of use, it is possible to more appropriately select an advertisement that attracts the user's interest. For example, in the case of using the CM history information, the streaming information of the CM having a large number of times of use may be selected, or the CM may be selected in descending order of the number of times of use. May be displayed.

At the time of transmitting the streaming information, the streaming information of the advertisement is added to the streaming information requested by the user and transmitted. In the present embodiment, the streaming information of the advertisement is output at a predetermined time when the requested streaming information is output. The predetermined time may be, for example, before the requested streaming information is output. It may be during the output of the requested streaming information or may be immediately after the end of the output of the requested streaming information. According to this, the streaming information of the advertisement can be appropriately output to the terminal immediately before, during, or after the requested streaming information is output to the terminal. Thereby, the effect of the advertisement can be improved.

FIG. 10 is a processing sequence diagram showing an example of processing for editing and presenting history information of a user's instruction in the network system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this network, the history information presentation unit 130
Retrieves the history information stored in the history information recording unit 160 at a predetermined timing, compiles the histories of instructions transmitted from a plurality of users, and generates editing history information (S
130). Subsequently, the history information presenting unit 130 presents the editing history information to the information provider (S132).

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the editing history information generated by the history information editing unit. Edit history information 300
Are classified into categories such as "all contents", "news", and "sports", and hold a popularity ranking of contents in each category as a table. The popularity ranking is calculated by totaling various types of history information stored in the history information recording unit 160. For example, the number of times of using the content, the number of times of registering the icon, and the number of times of using the CM may be added, and the ranking may be determined from the total number of times.

By presenting the editing history information 300 to all information providers, the information provider can grasp not only the usage status of its own content but also the usage status of the content of another information provider. it can. Thereby, marketing research can be performed without spending unnecessary costs, and content can be further enriched. This is also favorable for the user, and such a virtuous cycle can realize a website in which many users and information providers can gather and mutually enjoy advantages.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiment. For example, in the icon history information illustrated in FIG. 6, the icon use histories may be sorted in descending order of the number of times of use, and stored in the icon use history column 242 in each icon history column 244. By doing so, it is possible to quickly identify an icon that is frequently used. Further, in the use history field 244 for each icon, the date when the icon was used last may be managed, and the icon may be sorted in the order of the date used last. This is the same for the content use history information shown in FIG. 5 and the CM history information shown in FIG.

It is apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or improvements can be made to the above embodiment. It is apparent from the description of the appended claims that embodiments with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0054]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, a user and an information provider can easily and appropriately obtain useful information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a web server according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a content holding unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a user information holding unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a content use history holding unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an icon history holding unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a CM history holding unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a processing sequence of the network system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu screen displayed on a terminal by a web server.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a processing sequence of the network system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of editing history information.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 web server, 20 terminal, 110 instruction receiving unit, 120 processing unit, 122 content transmitting unit, 13
0 history information presentation unit, 150 content holding unit, 16
0 History information holding unit.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A network system comprising: a terminal; and a web server that provides information to the terminal, wherein the web server includes: a content holding unit that holds content provided by a plurality of information providers; An instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction transmitted from the terminal, and when the instruction is a transmission request of the content,
A content transmitting unit that transmits the content to the terminal, a history information recording unit that records history information of the instruction, a history information presenting unit that edits the history information and presents editing history information to the information provider. And a terminal transmitting unit that transmits the instruction to the web server; and a content receiving unit that receives the content transmitted from the web server. 2. A web server for providing information to a predetermined terminal via a network, comprising: a content holding unit for holding content provided by a plurality of information providers; and receiving an instruction transmitted from the terminal. An instruction receiving unit to perform, when the instruction is a transmission request of the content,
A content transmitting unit that transmits the content to the terminal, a history information recording unit that records history information of the instruction, a history information presenting unit that edits the history information and presents editing history information to the information provider. , A web server. 3. The plurality of information providers include a sponsor company belonging to a plurality of different industries, and the history information presenting unit provides the information provider with the sponsor company belonging to a different industry from the information provider. The web server according to claim 2, wherein the editing server presents the editing history information including an instruction for the content provided by the web server. 4. The history information presenting section generates the editing history information by totalizing history information of the instructions transmitted from a plurality of terminals.
Web server according to. 5. An information providing method for providing information to a predetermined terminal, the method comprising: receiving an instruction for content provided by a plurality of information providers from the terminal; and recording the instruction as history information. Presenting the history information to the information provider;
An information providing method, comprising: