JP2002111711A - Information distribution system, information distribution method and storage medium recording information distribution program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information distribution system, an information distributing method and a storage medium recording an information distribution program for distributing information to a user, even if the address information of the user to whom an information provider has to supply the information cannot be obtained. SOLUTION: A centralized service providing apparatus 1 stores, corresponding to users, individual address identifiers for distributing information to users having user terminals from each information provider in which apparatuses 3-1 to 3-3 for providing service A to C are installed. Next, when information is supplied via a communication line 102 from a service A providing apparatus 3-1, the centralized service providing apparatus 1 identifies a distribution address of the information supplied based on the address identifier added to the information supplied and the address identifier stored, and distributes information to the relevant user terminal 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information distribution system for distributing information supplied from a plurality of information providers to a user via a communication line, an information distribution method, and a recording recording an information distribution program. Regarding the medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been realized an information distribution system capable of distributing electronic information via a communication line such as the Internet, without being restricted by area or time.
As such a conventional information distribution system, a system in which an electronic mail server is provided and an information provider distributes information to each user's electronic mail address by electronic mail is generally known. Therefore, the information provider acquires an e-mail address of a destination to which information is to be distributed from each user in advance and transmits an e-mail.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional information distribution system, since the information provider acquires the user's own e-mail address, the e-mail address can be leaked to a third party. There is. As a result,
Unwanted e-mails, such as e-mails (spam mails) that send product advertisements to random parties, may reach users, which is very annoying to users. In particular, when an e-mail address is leaked to a malicious third party, there is a possibility that annoying e-mail or annoying e-mail such as an e-mail bomb with a computer virus is transmitted to the user. These are exactly the same situations in which the privacy of users has been violated, and have become a huge social problem.

[0004] These problems are caused by the fact that in the conventional information distribution system, the information provider needs to obtain the e-mail address of the user himself / herself, that is, the information provider needs to obtain the e-mail address of each individual user. If you do not obtain the information, you will not be able to distribute the information to the users who should supply the information, and as a result, the users will have to publish their e-mail address to the information provider, is there.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a user with an information provider even if the information provider does not acquire the destination information of the user who should supply the information. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information distribution system, an information distribution method, and a recording medium on which an information distribution program capable of distributing information by means of a computer.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 distributes information supplied from a plurality of information providers to users via a communication line. In the information distribution system including the aggregation service providing device, the aggregation service providing device stores an individual destination identifier for distributing information from each information provider to the user in association with the user. And determining a delivery destination of the supplied information based on a destination identifier added to the information supplied from the information provider via a communication line and the stored destination identifier. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the integrated service providing apparatus stores a provider identifier corresponding to the information provider in association with the stored destination identifier. It is characterized by doing. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the aggregation service providing apparatus stores the supplied information for each of the specified distribution destinations. I do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the integrated service providing apparatus provides, for each of the specified distribution destinations, a service corresponding to an information provider of the supplied information. It stores a user identifier and a distribution state of the information. The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The destination identifier added to the supplied information is a part of the destination information added to the information.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information distribution method in an integrated service providing apparatus for distributing information supplied from a plurality of information providers to a user via a communication line. The method includes the steps of storing a unique destination identifier for distributing information from each of the information providers to the user in association with the user, and supplying the destination identifier via the communication line from the information provider. Identifying the distribution destination of the supplied information based on the destination identifier added to the received information and the stored destination identifier.

[0010] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the information distribution method stores a provider identifier corresponding to the information provider in association with the stored destination identifier. The method may further include a process. The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 6 or claim 7.
In the invention described in (1), the information distribution method further includes a step of storing the supplied information for each of the specified distribution destinations. According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the eighth aspect, the information distribution method includes, for each of the specified distribution destinations, a provider identifier corresponding to an information provider of the supplied information; The method further includes storing information distribution status.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information distribution program for performing an information distribution process in an integrated service providing apparatus which distributes information supplied from a plurality of information providers to a user via a communication line. Is stored in a computer-readable recording medium, wherein the information distribution program stores a unique destination identifier for distributing information from each information provider to the user in association with the user. And a process of specifying a distribution destination of the supplied information based on the destination identifier added to the information supplied from the information provider via the communication line and the stored destination identifier. It is characterized by being executed.

[0012] According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the tenth aspect, the information distribution program stores a provider identifier corresponding to the information provider in association with the stored destination identifier. It is characterized by causing a computer to further execute the processing. According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the tenth or eleventh aspect, the information distribution program further executes a process of storing the supplied information for each of the specified distribution destinations on a computer. It is characterized by being executed. Claim 13
In the invention described in claim 12, in the invention described in claim 12, the information distribution program, for each of the specified distribution destination,
The computer may further execute a process of storing a provider identifier corresponding to the information provider of the supplied information and a distribution state of the information. Thus, the above-described integrated service providing apparatus can be realized using a computer.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information distribution system according to the embodiment. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an integrated service providing apparatus that distributes information supplied from a plurality of information providers to users. Reference numeral 2 denotes a user terminal for a user of the information distribution system to receive information distributed by the aggregation service providing apparatus 1. Reference numerals 3-1 to 3-3 denote devices for providing services A to C provided by a plurality of information providers, and transmit information to be supplied to users to the integrated service providing device 1. Reference numerals 101 to 104 denote communication lines for connecting the integrated service providing apparatus 1, the user terminal 2, and the services A to C providing apparatuses 3-1 to 3-3, respectively. As the communication lines 101 to 104, a telephone line, a dedicated line, or a communication line provided by a computer network such as the Internet can be used. In addition, the aggregation service providing apparatus 1
The plurality of service providing devices 3-1 to n (n; an integer of 1 or more) and a plurality of user terminals 2 are connected to each other, and information supplied from the service providing devices 3-1 to n is supplied to a plurality of user terminals. 2 respectively.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the integrated service providing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. In this figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a communication control unit which communicates with the user terminal 2 and the services A to C providing devices 3-1 to 3-3 via the communication lines 101 to 104 to transmit and receive data. Reference numeral 12 denotes management of distribution of information received from the service A to C providing devices 3-1 to 3 by the communication control unit 11, and the communication control unit 1
1 is an information aggregation management control unit that transmits and receives data to and from the user terminal 2 via the communication terminal 1. Reference numeral 13 includes an information storage unit 14 that stores information received from the service A to C providing devices 3-1 to 3-3, and an accumulation control unit 15 that performs accumulation management of information in the information storage unit 14. An information storage / control unit.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a destination correspondence table which is read and written by the information aggregation management control unit 12, and associates a plurality of destination identifiers (destination IDs) of each user with identifiers of information providers (provider IDs). And store. The destination ID is an individual identifier for distributing information from each information provider to the user. The information aggregation management control unit 12 determines the destination ID added to the received information and the destination correspondence table. 16, the distribution destination (user) of the received information is specified. That is, each information provider adds the destination ID of the desired user to the information to be supplied, and sends the information from the services A to C providing apparatuses 3-1 to 3-3 to the integrated service providing apparatus 1
Will be sent to

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the destination correspondence table 16. In FIG. 3, the destination correspondence table 16 includes three destination IDs (Paid, Pb) of the user Y in association with the user ID (Yid) of the user Y.
id, Pcid) are stored. Also, each destination ID
Provider ID corresponding to (Paid, Pbid, Pcid)
(Aid, Bid, Cid) are also stored in association with the destination IDs. Similarly, user ID of user Z
(Zid), destination ID (Pdid), and corresponding provider I
D (Aid) is stored. Here, the provider ID
(Aid) indicates the information provider of the service A providing apparatus 3-1 in FIG. 1, the provider ID (Bid) is the information provider of the service B providing apparatus 3-2, and the provider ID (Cid) is the service C provider. The information provider of the device 3-3 is shown.

The destination ID is a different identifier for each user and each information provider. Therefore, for example, as described above, the destination ID of the user Y is Paid for the information provider of the service A providing apparatus 3-1, but is a user for the information provider of the service B providing apparatus 3-2. The destination ID of Y is Pbid. The destination ID of the information provider of the service A providing apparatus 3-1 to the user Z is Pdid.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a user information database (user D) read and written by the information aggregation management control unit 12.
B), the personal information of the user of the information distribution system is registered. The personal information is information for identifying the user, such as name, age, gender, password, destination information (e-mail address, IP address, etc.). Also,
The corresponding user ID is also registered in the user DB. In addition, an accumulated information table 18 as shown in FIG. 4 is stored for each user in the information storage unit 14 of FIG. The storage information table 18 is read and written by the storage control unit 15, and the information identifier (information ID) of the information stored in the information storage unit 14 and the distribution status of the information correspond to the provider ID. It is stored along with it. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the accumulation information table 18, and here,
Information ID of information received from service A providing apparatus 3-1
(C1id, c2id, c3id) and their distribution status, and the information ID (c4id) of the information received from the service B providing apparatus 3-2 and their distribution status are stored.

The information storage unit 14 and the storage unit in which the destination correspondence table 16 and the user DB 17 are stored include a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk device, a magneto-optical disk device, a flash memory, and a random access memory (RAM).
Memory), or a combination thereof. In addition, these storage units may be built in the integrated service providing device 1 or may be other devices (database server) not shown.
And the integrated service providing apparatus 1 may access these storage units by communication.

Each control unit of the integrated service providing apparatus 1 may be realized by dedicated hardware, and each control unit includes a memory and a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The function of the unit may be realized by loading a program for realizing the function of the unit into a memory and executing the program. In addition, an input device, a display device, and the like (neither is shown) are connected to the integrated service providing device 1 as peripheral devices. Here, the input device refers to an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. A display device is a CRT (Cathode
Ray Tube) and liquid crystal display devices. In addition, it is assumed that an input device, a display device, and the like (neither is shown) are connected as peripheral devices to the user terminal 2 and the services A to C providing devices 3-1 to 3-3, respectively. Here, the input device refers to an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. The display device refers to a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a liquid crystal display device, or the like. Using these peripheral devices, the user and the information provider input and display data such as information contents.

Next, the operation of the information distribution system shown in FIG. 1 relating to information distribution will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10 are flowcharts illustrating the flow of the information distribution process performed by the integrated service providing device 1. FIGS. 11 to 14 are diagrams illustrating a configuration example of a screen displayed on the display device of the user terminal 2 by the integrated service providing apparatus 1. Each of the screens 111 to 114 in FIGS. 11 to 14 includes a title display area 121 and a main display area 122. The screens of FIGS. 11 to 14 can also be displayed on the display device of the integrated service providing apparatus 1. In the following description, the integrated service providing device 1, the user terminal 2, and the services A to C providing devices 3-1 to 3-3 are connected by communication lines 101 to 104, respectively. Data is transmitted and received. Further, data transmitted from the user terminal 2 to the aggregation service providing apparatus 1 is input from an input device of the user terminal 2, and data transmitted from the aggregation service providing apparatus 1 is displayed on the user terminal 2. Displayed on the device.

First, an operation of registering a user Y who wants to use the information distribution system as a user Y will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. This user registration is performed by a registration worker. The registration worker may be the operator of the integrated service providing apparatus 1 or may be the user Y who wants to use the service. When the registered worker is the operator of the integrated service providing apparatus 1, the operator inputs data from the input device of the integrated service providing apparatus 1. The applicant Y inputs data from the input device of the user terminal 2. The “user management menu” screen 111 in FIG. 11 is displayed on the display device of the integrated service providing apparatus 1 or the user terminal 2.

First, when the data (identifier, password) of a registered worker is input, the information aggregation management control unit 12 of the integrated service providing apparatus 1 checks the data registered in advance as a registered worker and matches the data. If the registered data exists, the registration operator is authenticated (step SP11). After this authentication, the information aggregation management control unit 12 displays the “user management menu” screen 111 on the display device on which the registered worker works, and selects the user after the “register user” button B1 is selected. An information input screen is displayed on the display device. When user information (name, age, gender, password, destination information, etc.) is input according to the user information input screen,
The information aggregation management control unit 12 assigns a user ID (Yid) to the user Y and registers it in the user information DB 17 together with the input user information (step SP12).
To SP13). Thus, the user Y is registered as the user Y. At the time of this user registration, it is not necessary to input data into the user ID input area 131 of the “user management menu” screen 111. Further, the destination information input as the user information is a user Y
Is the information indicating the user terminal 2 of the user. Here, it is assumed that the electronic mail address of the user Y who wants to use is input.

Next, the information aggregation management control unit 12 notifies the accumulation control unit 15 of the completion of the new registration of the user Y by the user ID (Y
id), and the accumulation control unit 15
4, a storage area for the received information for the user ID (Yid) and a storage area for the storage information table 18 for the user ID (Yid) are generated (step SP14). Here, the storage information table 18 of FIG. 4 is generated for the user ID (Yid), but no data is stored in each item, and the item is blank. Next, the information aggregation management control unit 12 notifies the user ID (Yid) to the registration worker and the user Y (step SP15). The notification to the registered worker is performed by display on the display device on which the registered worker works, and the notification to the user Y is notified by an e-mail addressed to the e-mail address registered in the user information DB 17. You.

Next, the operation of deleting the registration of the user Y will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
In the operation of deleting the registration of the user Y, the information aggregation management control unit 12 authenticates the registered worker (step SP21) in the same manner as step 11 at the time of the user registration, and then displays the information on the display device on which the registered worker works. The “user management menu” screen 111 is displayed. After “Yid” is input to the user ID input area 131 of the “user management menu” screen 111 and the “delete user” button B3 is selected, the information aggregation management control unit 12 Information DB17
The information (user information, user ID) related to the user ID (Yid) is deleted from (steps SP22 to SP23). Further, the information aggregation management control unit 12 notifies the storage control unit 15 of the registration and deletion of the user Y together with the user ID (Yid),
The storage control unit 15 stores the user ID (Y
id) storage area for received information and user ID (Yi
The storage area of the storage information table 18 for d) is deleted (step SP24). As a result, the user registration of the user Y is deleted.

Next, an operation of updating the registered user information of the user Y will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. In the user information updating operation of the user Y, the information aggregation management controller 12 authenticates the registered worker (step SP31) in the same manner as in step 11 at the time of user registration, and displays the work performed by the registered worker. The apparatus displays a “user management menu” screen 111. The user ID input area 13 of the “user management menu” screen 111
After “Yid” has been input to “1”, when the “update user information” button B2 is selected, the information aggregation management control unit 1
2 displays a user information input screen on the display device. Here, the information aggregation management control unit 12 stores the user information DB 17
, The user information of the user ID (Yid) is read and displayed on the user information input screen. When the user information is re-input according to the user information input screen, the information aggregation management control unit 12 updates the re-input user information in the user information DB 17 (steps SP32 and SP3).
3).

Next, the operation of registering the destination ID of the user Y will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the information aggregation management control unit 12 displays the “user menu” screen 112 on the display device on which the registered worker works after the registration worker is authenticated in the same manner as in step 11 at the time of the user registration (step 11). Step SP41). The user ID input area 13 of the “user menu” screen 112
After “Yid” is input to “1”, if the “register destination ID” button B4 is selected, the information aggregation management control unit 1
2 displays a destination ID input screen on the display device. According to this destination ID input screen, a plurality of destination IDs (Paid,
When Pbid, Pcid is input, the information aggregation management control unit 12 searches the user information DB 17 and determines whether or not the input user ID (Yid) is registered (steps SP42 to SP44). ). As a result of this determination, if the input user ID (Yid) is registered,
The information aggregation management control unit 12 sets the plurality of input destination IDs
(Paid, Pbid, Pcid) are stored in the destination correspondence table 16 together with the user ID (Yid) (step SP45). Thus, registration of the destination ID is completed.
On the other hand, when there is no registration of the input user ID (Yid), the information aggregation management control unit 12 displays the user ID (Yid) on the display device on which the registered worker works.
Is notified to the registration operator (step SP46).

The destination ID (Paid, Pbi)
d, Pcid), at the same time, the provider IDs (Aid, Bid, Ci) corresponding to the destination IDs
d) is also input. These entered provider IDs (Ai
d, Bid, Cid) are stored in the destination correspondence table 16 by the information aggregation management control unit 12 with each destination ID (Paid,
Pbid, Pcid). As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the destination correspondence table 16 stores the user ID (Yid) and the destination ID (Paid, Pbid,
Pcid) and the provider ID (Aid, Bid, Cid) are stored in association with each other. Here, the provider ID (Aid, Bid, Cid) is determined in advance by the operator of the information distribution system and notified to the user Y. The destination ID can be freely set under a certain rule, but a value already registered in the destination correspondence table 16 cannot be used. The check of the double registration of the destination ID is performed in step SP45.
The information aggregation management controller 12 confirms that the same destination ID has not been registered in the destination correspondence table 16.

Next, when deleting the registered destination ID of the user Y, the user ID input area 13 of the "user menu" screen 112 displayed in the above step SP41.
After “Yid” is input to “1”, when the “delete destination ID” button B5 is selected, the information aggregation management control unit 1
2 displays a destination ID input screen on the display device. When the destination ID to be deleted is input according to the destination ID input screen, the information aggregation management control unit 12 sets the destination correspondence table 1
The information (user ID, destination ID, provider ID) related to the destination ID input from Step 6 is deleted.

Next, an operation of receiving information addressed to the user Y from the service A providing apparatus 3-1 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the same applies to the operation of receiving information from the other services B and C providing devices 3-2 and 3-2. First, the service A providing device 3-1
Of the destination ID (Pai
d) has been notified. The information provider sets the notified destination ID (Paid) in the service A providing device 3-1 as a part of the destination information to be added to the information addressed to the user Y. For example, when information is supplied by e-mail to the aggregation service providing apparatus 1, a destination ID (Paid) is used as a part of the e-mail address. For example, an e-mail address from the service A providing apparatus 3-1 to the user Y is configured as “Send_Paid_to_a @ X”. As described above, the configuration of the e-mail address addressed to the aggregation service providing apparatus 1 is determined in advance so as to include the destination ID.

First, when the information to which the electronic mail address “Send_Paid_to_a @ X” is transmitted from the service A providing apparatus 3-1 and received by the integrated service providing apparatus 1, the information aggregation management control unit 12 sends the electronic mail. The destination of the supplied information is specified based on the destination ID (Paid) in the mail address and the destination ID (Paid) stored in the destination correspondence table 16. Specifically, the information aggregation management control unit 12 searches the destination correspondence table 16 and finds the destination ID that matches the destination ID (Paid) in the e-mail address.
The user ID (Yid) associated with (Paid) is acquired as distribution destination information of the received information (step S).
51, SP52). Here, the information aggregation management control unit 12
Also obtains the provider ID (Aid).

Next, the information aggregation management control section 12 assigns an information ID (c1id) to the received information, and the received information, a user ID (Yid) and a provider ID
(Aid) and transferred to the accumulation controller 15. The storage control unit 15 stores the user ID (Yid) in the information storage unit 14.
Storing the received information in the received information storage area for
The provider ID (Aid) and the information ID (c1id) are stored in the storage information table 18 for the user ID (Yid). Here, the storage control unit 15 stores the storage information table 18
In step S53, the non-delivery is set as the distribution status.
-SP55). As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the stored information table 18 includes the provider ID (Aid), the information ID
(C1id) and the distribution status (undistributed) are registered.

Next, the operation of distributing information to the user Y will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when the data (identifier, password) of the user Y is input from the user terminal 2, the information aggregation management control unit 12 checks the data registered in the user information DB 17 and finds a matching data. If so, the user Y is authenticated (step SP61). After this authentication, the information aggregation management control unit 12 displays a “user menu” screen 112 on the display device of the user terminal 2. Here, when there is information that has not been delivered to the user Y, the “number of new arrivals”
Is displayed. "User menu" screen 11 in FIG.
In FIG. 2, it is displayed as “new arrival: 2 cases”. Next, the user I on the “user menu” screen 112
When the “view information” button B6 is selected after “Yid” is input to the D input area 131, the information aggregation management control unit 12 causes the user terminal 2 to “view information” in FIG. The screen 113 is displayed. Here, the information aggregation management control unit 12 notifies the storage control unit 15 of the user ID (Yid), and reads the user ID (Yi) from the storage information table 18.
d) information (provider ID, information ID, distribution status) is read, and the destination IDs (Paid, Pbid, Pci) of the user Y are displayed on the "view information" screen 113.
d) and the corresponding browse selection buttons B7 to B9 and the "number of new arrivals" are displayed (step SP6).
3). In the “view information” screen 113, the number of undelivered information is displayed as the number of new arrivals, and if there is no undelivered information, “no new arrival” is displayed.

Next, when the browse selection button B7 of the destination ID (Paid) is selected, the information aggregation management controller 12
Causes the user terminal 2 to display the “view” screen 114 of FIG. The “browse” screen 114 includes an information storage unit 14
Is the information stored in the destination ID (Paid)
Are added and the title of the information received by the integrated service providing apparatus 1 and the distribution status thereof are displayed. Here, the information aggregation management control unit 12 acquires the title of the information of the user ID (Yid) stored in the information storage unit 14 from the accumulation control unit 15, and displays the “browse” screen together with the distribution status of each information. 114 is displayed (step SP64). Note that, in the storage information table 18 of FIG.
The title of the information corresponding to (c1id) and the distribution status are “new product information” and “new” and “browse” in FIG.
It is displayed on the screen 114. Similarly, information ID
The title and distribution status of the information corresponding to (c2id) are "purchase confirmation" and "new arrival", and the information ID (c3i
The title and distribution status of the information corresponding to d) are “service guidance” and “read”, and are respectively “browse” in FIG.
It is displayed on the screen 114.

Next, when the browse button B10 on the "browse" screen 114 is selected (when the result of the determination in step SP65 is "browse"), the information aggregation management control unit 12 sets the information ID (c1id) of the designated information ID. It instructs the accumulation control unit 15 to read information from the information storage unit 14. Information storage unit 1
When the information of the information ID (c1id) is read from No. 4,
The information aggregation management control unit 12 transmits the read information to the e-mail address of the user ID (Yid) registered in the user information DB 17, that is, to the e-mail address of the user Y himself / herself ( Step SP66). On the other hand, when the browse button B11 of the “browse” screen 114 is selected (when the result of the determination in step SP65 is “delete”), the information aggregation management control unit 12 sends the designated information ID
The storage control unit 15 is instructed to delete the information (c1id) from the information storage unit 14. Next, the accumulation control unit 15
Deletes the information of the information ID (c1id) from the reception information storage area for the user ID (Yid) in the information storage unit 14,
Further, the information ID (c1id) is obtained from the accumulated information table 18.
Is deleted (provider ID, distribution status) (step SP67).

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the integrated service providing apparatus 1 uses the individual destination ID for distributing information from each information provider to the user.
Is stored in the destination correspondence table 16 in association with the user ID, and based on the destination ID added to the information supplied from the information provider via the communication line and the destination ID stored in the destination correspondence table 16. Since the distribution destination (user) of the supplied information is specified, the information provider
The information can be delivered to the user without acquiring the destination information (e-mail address or the like) of the user who should supply the information. As a result, users do not have to disclose their e-mail address to information providers,
Leakage of the user's e-mail address from the information provider to a third party can be prevented.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the integrated service providing apparatus 1 stores the provider ID of the information provider in association with the destination ID stored in the destination correspondence table 16, so that, for example, Even if the provider leaks the destination ID to a third party and the third party sends information to the user using the destination ID, the destination correspondence table 1
The information provider that has leaked the destination ID to a third party can be specified based on the provider ID stored in association with the destination ID in No. 6. This is effective in preventing leakage of the destination ID and unauthorized use in the present embodiment.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the integrated service providing apparatus 1 provides the services A to C of the information provider.
The information supplied from the information provider is stored for each distribution destination specified based on the destination ID added to the information received from the providing devices 3-1 to 3-3 and the content stored in the destination correspondence table 16. Since the information is stored in the storage unit 14, the storage control unit 15 can collectively delete the reception information storage area for the user when the registration of the user is deleted. The registration deletion processing can be performed more efficiently.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the integrated service providing apparatus 1 provides the services A to C of the information provider.
For each distribution destination specified based on the destination ID added to the information received from the providing devices 3-1 to 3-3 and the content stored in the destination correspondence table 16, the information provider of the supplied information corresponds to the information provider. Since the provider ID and the distribution status of the information are stored in the accumulated information table 18, the destination ID and the distribution status on the “view information” screen 113 in FIG. 13 and the “view” screen 114 in FIG. In the display processing of (1), it is possible to determine the display content based on the content stored in the accumulation information table 18. As a result, the integrated service providing apparatus 1 can efficiently perform the display processing of the screens 113 and 114.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the destination I added to the information supplied to the aggregated service providing apparatus 1 from the information provider's services A to C providing apparatuses 3-1 to 3-3.
D is a part of the destination information (e-mail address) added to the information.
51, SP52, the information aggregation management control unit 12
The destination ID can be easily extracted from the destination information (e-mail address). As a result, the destination ID added to the supplied information and the destination I stored in the destination correspondence table 16 are stored.
Based on D, the process of specifying the distribution destination of the supplied information can be performed more efficiently.

Next, a configuration example in the case where the above-described embodiment of the present invention is applied to an electronic information delivery system will be described. FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an electronic information distribution system to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied. First, the basic configuration of the electronic information delivery system will be described. In FIG. 15, reference numeral 201 denotes an electronic information delivery device. Reference numeral 202 denotes an electronic information delivery device 201
Is an information provider that provides information by using. Sign 2
Reference numeral 03 denotes a user who uses the electronic information distribution apparatus 201, and obtains information provided by the information provider 202 using a Web browser 231 running on a personal computer and a mobile phone 232 that can be connected to the Internet. Symbol 21a
Is a management unit that manages the distribution process of the electronic information, and an operation management unit 211 that manages the operation of the electronic information distribution device 201
Delivery information management unit 212 that manages electronic information to be delivered
Consists of Reference numeral 21b is a delivery processing unit. Code 21
Reference numeral 3 denotes a filter function unit that performs a filtering process on the information received from the information provider in the delivery information management unit 212. Reference numeral 214 denotes an individualization function unit that individualizes the information filtered by the filter function unit 213.

Reference numeral 215 denotes a distribution distribution unit that distributes and distributes the information individualized by the individualization function unit 214. Reference numeral 216 denotes a history information file that records a change in the state of the delivered information. Reference numeral 217 denotes a history reference unit that refers to the history information file 216 and notifies the information provider 202 of the status of the delivered information. Reference numeral 218 denotes a user attribute information file in which attribute information of the user 203 is defined, and information on hobbies and preferences is defined for each user 203. Reference numeral 219 denotes an electronic post-office box having a data file provided for each user. Information provided by the information provider 202 is stored in the electronic post-office box by the delivery processing unit 21b. Code 22
Reference numeral 0 denotes a delivery server that delivers information to the user 203. Reference numeral 221 denotes a mobile phone connection gateway for connecting the mobile phone 232 to the electronic information delivery device 201.

Next, the basic operation of the electronic information delivery apparatus 201 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, an example in which the information provider 202 transmits a direct mail to the user 203 will be described. First, the information provider 202
Is created using a personal computer or the like owned by the information provider 202. The electronic information created here is digital data including document data, image data, sound data, and the like. Then, the information provider 202 transmits a direct mail dispatch request including the created electronic information to the electronic information delivery device 201. At this time, the information provider 202 sets the electronic information delivery device 201 together with the delivery conditions for delivering the electronic information.
Send to The delivery condition here is a condition for limiting the delivery destination to which direct mail is delivered, and specifies the age range, hobbies, and preferences of the user, and direct mail is sent only to users who meet this condition. Is used to deliver.

The electronic information and the delivery conditions transmitted from the information provider 202 are received by the delivery information management unit 212, and the electronic information is held in the delivery information management unit 212. Then, the delivery information management unit 212 outputs the electronic information and delivery conditions held therein to the filter function unit 213. In response to this, the filter function unit 213 refers to the user attribute information file 218 and extracts a user that matches the received delivery condition. Subsequently, the filter function unit 213 outputs the electronic information to the individualization function unit 214 for each user who meets the delivery condition. The electronic information output here is output by the same number as the number of users that match the delivery conditions.

Next, the individualizing function unit 214 performs an individualizing process of adding necessary information for each user to the electronic information received from the filter function unit 213 and converting the electronic information into a direct mail format. In this individualization process, information such as a destination and a sender is given, and a process of inserting electronic information into a predetermined direct mail format is performed. However, the destination here is the user 203
It is a post office box ID for specifying the electronic post office box 219 provided for each.

Next, the individualizing function unit 214 distributes the electronic information subjected to the individualizing process for each user to the delivery sorting unit 215.
Output to In response, the delivery distribution unit 215
Based on the destination (post-office box ID) assigned to the electronic information received from the individualizing function unit 214, the distribution is performed and the electronic information is output to the electronic post-office box 219. Electronic PO Box 2
19 receives this electronic information and stores it in the corresponding data file based on the post office box ID. In addition, the delivery distribution unit 215 receives the direct mail via the delivery server 220 to the user 203 who owns the post office box that delivered the direct mail in synchronization with outputting the electronic information to the electronic post office box 219. Notify that. User 20
In response to the notification, the Web browser 3 or the mobile phone 232 acquires the electronic information stored in the electronic post-office box 219. As a result, the direct mail transmitted from the information provider 202 is
Will arrive at

On the other hand, the electronic post-office box 219 stores the time when the electronic information is received from the delivery distribution unit 215 and the time when the user 20
3 obtains the electronic information stored in the electronic post-office box 219, the information indicating that fact is stored in the history information file 21.
Store in 6. The information provider 202 transmits a history information reference request to the electronic information distribution device 201 at an arbitrary timing after transmitting the direct mail dispatch request. This history information reference request is received by the history reference unit 217. In response to this, the history reference unit 217 reads the history information related to the relevant direct mail from the history information file 216 and transmits the contents to the information provider 202.

The information provider 202 acquires the history information transmitted from the history reference unit 217 and confirms the contents. Thus, the information provider can grasp how many direct mails requested to be sent have been sent and how many users have viewed the sent direct mails.

In the above description, the operation when the delivery condition is specified has been described.
The mail may be directly delivered to the electronic post-office box 219 by designating the post-office box ID in advance.

As described above, the information provider 202 can send a plurality of direct mails to the electronic information delivery device 201 only by transmitting the contents of the direct mail and the delivery conditions. In addition, since direct mail is sent only to users who meet the delivery conditions, mail can be sent efficiently.

Next, with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 15, a configuration example in which the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 described above is applied to the electronic information delivery system of FIG. The following description focuses on the correspondence between the configuration of the electronic information delivery apparatus 201 in FIG. 15 and the configuration of the integrated service providing apparatus 1 in FIG. In the electronic information delivery system of FIG. 15, the electronic information delivery device 201 is the integrated service providing device 1. Further, it is assumed that the information provider 202 is the information provider provided with the service A providing device 3-1 and the user 203 is the user Y. The service A providing device 3-1 is connected to the electronic information distribution device 201 via a communication line. User 203
Has a user terminal 2, and the user terminal 2 is connected to the electronic information delivery device 201 via a communication line. In the electronic information delivery device 201, the delivery information management unit 212 includes the information aggregation management control unit 12. The electronic post-office box 219 is the information storage unit 14 of the information storage / control unit 13, and the delivery processing unit 21 b includes the storage control unit 15. The communication control unit 11 is provided in the electronic information delivery device 201, but is not shown. The destination correspondence table 16 is stored in the management unit 2.
1a, the user attribute information file 218 is the user information DB17.

In the electronic information delivery system of FIG. 15 to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied, the electronic information delivery device 20
1 performs information distribution processing similar to the processing of FIGS. 5 to 10 described above. As a result, in the electronic information distribution system of FIG. 15, in addition to the effect of the above-described basic configuration, the effect of the configuration of the information distribution system of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be obtained. In particular, since a plurality of destination IDs can be assigned to the user 203, when the user 203 receives information from a plurality of information providers 202, the user 203 differs from each information provider 202. You will be recognized as a user. For this reason, even if the user 203 discloses privacy-related information to a plurality of information providers 202, since the user 203 is not specified as the same person by each information provider 202, privacy is not provided to the user 203. Is obtained.

The integrated service providing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
Alternatively, a program for realizing each process performed by the electronic information delivery device 201 shown in FIG. 15 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read by a computer system and executed. May perform the information distribution process. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer system” also includes a homepage providing environment (or a display environment) if a WWW system is used. The “computer-readable recording medium” means a portable medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. .

Further, a “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that serves as a server or a client when a program is transmitted through a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. ), A program that holds the program for a certain period of time is also included. Further, the above program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" for transmitting a program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. Further, the program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes a design and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. It is.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The aggregation service providing device stores the individual destination identifier for distributing information from each information provider to the user in association with the user and adds it to the information supplied from the information provider via the communication line The distribution destination of the supplied information is specified based on the destination identifier and the stored destination identifier, so that the information provider can determine the destination information (electronic The information can be distributed to the user without acquiring the e-mail address). As a result, the user does not have to disclose his / her own e-mail address to the information provider, and it is possible to prevent the e-mail address of the user from leaking from the information provider to a third party.

Further, if the integrated service providing apparatus stores the provider identifier corresponding to the information provider in association with the stored destination identifier, the information provider leaks the destination ID to a third party, Even if the information is sent from the third party to the user using the destination ID, the destination ID is changed to the third based on the provider ID stored in the destination correspondence table 16 in association with the destination ID. The information provider leaked to the person can be specified. This is effective in preventing leakage of the destination ID and unauthorized use in the present embodiment.

Further, if the integrated service providing apparatus stores the supplied information for each specified distribution destination, the reception information storage area for the user is collectively stored when the registration of the user is deleted. The registration service can be deleted more efficiently in the integrated service providing apparatus.

Furthermore, if the integrated service providing apparatus stores, for each specified distribution destination, a provider identifier corresponding to the information provider of the supplied information and the distribution status of the information, FIG. “Browse information” screen 113 or FIG. 14
In the display processing of the destination ID, the distribution status, and the like on the “browse” screen 114 described above, the display content can be determined based on the stored content. As a result, the integrated service providing apparatus can efficiently perform the display processing of the screens 113 and 114 and the like.

Further, if the destination identifier added to the supplied information is a part of the destination information added to the information, steps SP51 and SP52 shown in FIG.
In the process of specifying the distribution destination of the supplied information in, for example, the aggregation service providing apparatus can easily extract the destination identifier from the destination information (e-mail address). Therefore, the aggregation service providing apparatus can more efficiently perform the process of specifying the distribution destination of the supplied information based on the destination identifier added to the supplied information and the stored destination identifier.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an integrated service providing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a destination correspondence table 16 illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a storage information table 18.

FIG. 5 is a first flowchart illustrating a flow of an information distribution process performed by the aggregation service providing apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 2;

6 is a second flowchart illustrating a flow of an information distribution process performed by the aggregation service providing apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a third flowchart illustrating the flow of an information distribution process performed by the aggregation service providing apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 2;

8 is a fourth flowchart illustrating the flow of the information distribution process performed by the aggregation service providing apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 2;

9 is a fifth flowchart illustrating the flow of an information distribution process performed by the aggregation service providing apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a sixth flowchart illustrating the flow of an information distribution process performed by the aggregation service providing apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 2;

11 is a first diagram illustrating a configuration example of a screen displayed on the display device of the user terminal 2 by the integrated service providing apparatus 1. FIG.

12 is a second diagram illustrating a configuration example of a screen displayed on the display device of the user terminal 2 by the integrated service providing apparatus 1. FIG.

FIG. 13 is a third diagram illustrating a configuration example of a screen displayed on the display device of the user terminal 2 by the integrated service providing apparatus 1.

FIG. 14 is a fourth diagram illustrating a configuration example of a screen displayed on the display device of the user terminal 2 by the integrated service providing apparatus 1.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an electronic information delivery system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 aggregation service providing device 2 user terminal 3-1 to 3 services A to C providing device 11 communication control unit 12 information aggregation management control unit 13 information storage / control unit 14 information storage unit 15 storage control unit 16 destination correspondence table 17 use Information database 18 Accumulated information table 101-104 Communication line

Continued on the front page. (72) Eiji Yanagi, 2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan Within Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor, Masaki Suzuki 2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan (72) Inventor Hiroaki Fukazawa 2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 5K030 HA06 HC01 HD09 KA01 KA06

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An information distribution system comprising an aggregation service providing device that distributes information supplied from a plurality of information providers to a user via a communication line, wherein the aggregation service providing device includes: An individual destination identifier for distributing information from the provider to the user is stored in association with the user, and a destination identifier added to information supplied from the information provider via a communication line An information distribution system, wherein a distribution destination of the supplied information is specified based on the destination identifier and the stored destination identifier. 2. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the aggregation service providing device stores a provider identifier corresponding to the information provider in association with the stored destination identifier. 3. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the integrated service providing device stores the supplied information for each of the specified distribution destinations. 4. The aggregation service providing apparatus stores, for each of the specified distribution destinations, a provider identifier corresponding to an information provider of the supplied information and a distribution state of the information. The information distribution system according to claim 3, wherein 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the destination identifier added to the supplied information is a part of the destination information added to the information. Information distribution system. 6. An information distribution method in an aggregation service providing apparatus for distributing information supplied from a plurality of information providers to a user via a communication line, wherein the information distribution method comprises: Storing an individual destination identifier for distributing information from a user to the user in association with the user; and a destination added to information supplied from the information provider via a communication line. Identifying a distribution destination of the supplied information based on an identifier and the stored destination identifier. 7. The information according to claim 6, wherein the information distribution method further comprises a step of storing a provider identifier corresponding to the information provider in association with the stored destination identifier. Delivery method. 8. The information distribution method according to claim 6, wherein the information distribution method further includes a step of storing the supplied information for each of the specified distribution destinations. . 9. The information distribution method further includes a step of storing, for each of the specified distribution destinations, a provider identifier corresponding to an information provider of the supplied information and a distribution status of the information. 9. The information distribution method according to claim 8, wherein: 10. A computer-readable recording medium storing an information distribution program for performing an information distribution process in an aggregation service providing apparatus that distributes information supplied from a plurality of information providers to a user via a communication line. In the recording medium, the information distribution program stores, in association with the user, an individual destination identifier for distributing information from each of the information providers to the user; Specifying a distribution destination of the supplied information based on the destination identifier added to the information supplied via the communication line and the stored destination identifier. Recording medium on which an information distribution program to be executed is recorded. 11. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 10, wherein the information distribution program further causes the computer to execute a process of storing a provider identifier corresponding to the information provider in association with the stored destination identifier. A recording medium on which the described information distribution program is recorded. 12. The information distribution program according to claim 10, wherein the information distribution program further causes a computer to execute a process of storing the supplied information for each of the specified distribution destinations. A recording medium on which an information distribution program is recorded. 13. The information distribution program further includes, for each of the specified distribution destinations, a process of storing a provider identifier corresponding to an information provider of the supplied information and a distribution status of the information to a computer. 13. A recording medium on which the information distribution program according to claim 12 is executed.