JP2002123459A - System and method for distributing contents - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and a method for distributing contents, with which it is not necessary to prepare contents for each class of terminal by distributing common contents with respect to access from the terminals of different classes. SOLUTION: This system is provided with a contents storage means 14 for storing contents in relation with the kind of contents, a discriminating means (discriminating part) 10a for discriminating the classes of terminals 40a-40c desiring the distribution of contents and a control means 10 and on the basis of access from the terminals 40a40c, the control means 10 acquires the class information of the terminals from the discriminating part 10a. In the case of distributing correspondent contents to the terminals 40a-40c, corresponding to the kind of contents and class information, an identifier designating the display of contents on each of terminals 40a-40c is added to the relevant contents.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content distribution system and a content distribution method for providing predetermined contents to each terminal in response to access from terminals of different types.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, an Internet connection service has been provided by a portable telephone (portable terminal), and various contents can be obtained from the portable telephone. As a description language of such content, in a personal computer or the like, HTML (Hyper Text Marku) is used.
p Language) is used. On the other hand, on mobile phones,
A description language different from HTML is used because it performs wireless communication and has lower data processing and display capabilities than a personal computer. In this case, for example, WML (wireless markup language) is used as a unique description language depending on the model (type) of the mobile phone or the communication company.
e), HDML (handheld device markup language), compact HTML, and the like are used.

[0003]

However, the description language of the portable terminal described above is very low in compatibility, and when the same content is to be distributed to various portable terminals, various descriptions are required on the Web site side. It is necessary to register contents corresponding to different description languages, and the operation becomes extremely complicated. Further, when the content is registered for each type as described above, in order to browse the content, even if the content itself is the same, separate access information (URL) is set for each type.
(Uniform Resource Locator) must be specified to access the site, and the user has the inconvenience of managing the URL for each terminal type.

It is preferable that the above-mentioned contents can be easily created and modified not only by the administrator of the site but also by a general user from a terminal (for example, a personal computer) connected to the site via the Internet or the like. However, it is not easy for a general user to create content in a description language for each mobile terminal as described above.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and distributes a common content in response to accesses from terminals of different types, thereby creating a content for each terminal type or for each type. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content distribution system and a method that do not require access to content by designating different addresses and that can easily register and update type content without being aware of the type of terminal.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a content distribution system of the present invention distributes a common content to terminals of different types, and associates the content with the type of the content. Content storage means for storing, a determination means for determining the type of the terminal, and type information of the terminal obtained from the determination means based on an access from a terminal desiring distribution of the predetermined content, and a corresponding content When delivering to the terminal, control means is provided for assigning, to the content, an identifier designating display of the content on the terminal according to the type of the content and the type information.

[0007] Further, the content distribution system of the present invention comprises:
The control means distributes the content to the terminal in a viewable manner using a description language corresponding to the type of the terminal.

In the above content distribution system, the content distribution system is connected to a network,
It is preferable that the content can be created or updated from a predetermined content registration terminal connected to the network.

Further, the content distribution system of the present invention further comprises user information storage means for storing information of a content creating user who is allowed to create or update the content, wherein the content includes information of the content creating user. When the content registration terminal requests the creation or update of the content, the control unit determines whether to permit creation or update of the content based on information of the content creation user. It is characterized by doing.

The content distribution method of the present invention distributes a common content to terminals of different types, stores the content in association with the type of the content, and determines the type of the terminal. A step of acquiring type information of the terminal based on an access from a terminal that desires distribution of the predetermined content, and when distributing the corresponding content to the terminal, according to the type of the content and the type information, Attaching to the content an identifier designating the display of the content on the terminal.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of a content distribution system (hereinafter, referred to as “this system” as appropriate) 2 of the present invention, and a content storage unit (database) 1 described later in detail.
4. Control means 10 for controlling the entire system, and input / output control means 12 for transmitting and receiving information to and from the network 50
It has. The control means 10 can be realized as a central processing unit of a predetermined server device constituting the present system. Further, the determination unit 6 a that determines the type of the terminal that has accessed the system 2 forms a part of the control unit 6.
Further, this system constitutes a Web site as a whole.

The system 2 is connected to a network 50, and via the network 50, terminals 40 a to 40 a of a user who wants to distribute contents provided in the system 2.
Accept access from 40c. Here, the terminal 40
a to 40c are mobile phones, PHS, PDA (Personal D
In addition to portable terminals such as digital assistants (personal information devices), fixed terminals such as personal computers may be used. In the case of mobile terminals, each terminal is connected to the network 50 via the mobile communication network 60. Also, each terminal 40
Browsers capable of browsing Web pages are mounted on a to 40c. As the network 50, instead of the Internet, a dedicated line, a LAN (Local Area Network),
A WAN (Wide Area Network) or the like can also be used.

In this embodiment, the terminal 40a is a terminal receiving an Internet connection service using compact HTML as a description language, the terminal 40b is a terminal receiving an Internet connection service using HDML as a description language, and the terminal 40c is a terminal using WML as a description language. The terminal is a terminal that receives the Internet connection service, but in the case of a personal computer or the like, HTML is used as a description language.

On the other hand, this system 2
Is connected to the content registration terminal 30 accessible to
The content can be created or updated. As the content registration terminal 30, a fixed terminal or a portable terminal such as the personal computer described above can be used.

In the present system 2, the content storage means 14 stores the content to be distributed to each of the terminals 40a to 40c in association with the type of content described later.
As will be described later, a plurality of contents can be stored for each user who is permitted to create or update the contents.
Each content can include a plurality of pages (each page is hereinafter referred to as “content data”). Furthermore, information on the dependency between each page and other pages and information on the hierarchical structure between pages can also be stored. Each page can hold not only character information displayed on the terminal but also link information to other pages and the like, and a telephone number that can be automatically called by selecting a predetermined button as data. . Also, the user information storage means 20
The authentication information (ID (Identification) and password) assigned to each user (content creation user) who is permitted to create or update content by accessing this system is stored.

Next, a processing flow in the system 2 and the terminals 40a and 40b at the time of content distribution will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, a user who wants to distribute contents uses the terminal 40a to execute the system (Web).
The user accesses the site (i.e., site) by designating the content desired to be browsed (step S200). The access method is based on the URL (Un
iform Resource Locator), or a link registered on a predetermined menu screen may be selected. The control means 6 (determination unit 6a) of the present system
The type of the terminal is determined based on the access information transmitted from the terminal 40a (step S100). The type is determined by
When each terminal specifies the URL (address information) of the present system, this is performed based on information (environment variables) added by a browser mounted on each terminal according to a predetermined procedure. Specifically, the user specifies the address of this system, and "ht
tp: //www.nnet.ne.jp/index.html ”, the browser of the user terminal determines the communication method (protocol) from the“ http ”part, and sends it to the server (this system). ) Make a TCP / IP (protocol) connection to “www.nnet.ne.jp”. When the connection is completed, a request for information to be obtained is made to the server in a procedure according to the determined communication method. When the browser of the user terminal sends this request, an environment variable including the type of the browser is automatically added. At this time, the method of sending a request and the method of adding an environment variable are determined as Internet standards. The environment variables are (User-Agen
t) "Docomo / ~", "J-PHONE / ~", "Browser / ~", etc., which are different for each terminal type. Therefore, the control means 6 makes a determination by comparing the character strings. Here, http (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol
ol) is a communication protocol for exchanging data in HTML format. Also, the addition of the environment variable may be added at the time of passing through a communication base station of a portable terminal or a proxy server in addition to the browser of the terminal. Note that these environment variables are automatically transmitted from a browser or the like without the user's awareness. Therefore, when acquiring predetermined content from the present system, the user can use a common address regardless of the type of terminal (the above-described address). In the example, "http://www.nnet.ne.jp/i
ndex.html ”).

Next, the control means 10 controls the content storage means 14 based on the received content distribution request information.
And the corresponding content is extracted from the
0a, the type of the terminal 40a is acquired from the information from the terminal 40a, a predetermined identifier is attached to the content based on the type information and the type of the extracted content, and the content is distributed to the terminal 40a via the input / output control unit 12 (step S110). The terminal 40a receives this, and the user browses the content.
(Step S210). The identifier is made up of a tag specified by a description language used for each type of terminal, and has a function of controlling display of content and the like so that the content can be browsed on the terminal. The method of assigning the identifier will be described later.

Next, consider a processing flow when the same content as described above is distributed to another type of terminal 40b. In this case, since the description language is different, the same identifier as that of the terminal 40a cannot be used.

First, the user accesses the system by specifying the content desired to be browsed through the terminal 40b.
(Step S300). The control unit 6 (determination unit 6a) determines the type of the terminal based on the access information transmitted from the terminal 40b (Step S120). Next, control means 1
0 is based on the received content distribution request information,
The same content as described above is extracted from the content storage unit 14, and a predetermined identifier is assigned to the content based on the type of the terminal 40b obtained from the determination unit 10a and the type of the extracted content. It is distributed to the terminal 40b via the terminal 40 (step S130). Terminal 40b
Receives this, and the user browses the content (step S310). By assigning a different identifier (tag) to each terminal in this way, the same content can be browsed on each terminal. Further, since the content data stored in the content storage means 14 is single, the same content can be accessed simply by specifying the common address information (URL) regardless of the terminal type, and the user can access the same content. There is no need to manage different address information for each type. In other words, when different content data corresponding to different description languages are prepared for the same content, if the terminal type is different, the address information for accessing the content will also change, and the address for each type is changed. The inconvenience of management will arise. In particular, when trying to browse the same content on different types of terminals depending on the situation, it is very convenient if the address information is common.

Next, the above-mentioned contents are transferred to each terminal 40.
FIG. 3 shows an example of screen transition when displayed on a and 40b. In this figure, a user who has accessed the present system through the terminals 40a and 40b can select "NN"
A predetermined content "ET mobile site" is selected (FIG. 3 (1)). On the terminals 40a and 40b, a content list page 410 of the NNET mobile site is displayed next, and when the user selects a content item "product guide" 410a (FIG. 3 (2)), a product guide page 420 is displayed.
Is displayed (FIG. 3 (3)). Here, when the user selects the small item "new product information" 420a, a new product information page 430 is displayed, and the user can browse the contents (FIG. 3 (4)).

Next, in steps S110 and S130, the process of assigning an identifier to a content will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7 below.
In the following, a case will be described as an example where a content corresponding to the page 430 in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of common content data 14a stored in the content storage means 14.
The content data 14a is stored for each page displayed on each terminal. In this figure, content data 1
4a describes a content (contents) 14e, and a content type 14f is associated with each content 14e. The content 14e is a content portion of the content displayed on each terminal. The content type 14f specifies a display mode when each content 14e is displayed on the terminal, and specifies an identifier (tag) defined for each page description language. For example, the content "new product information" is displayed as the "heading" of the page,
The content "This year's new product information" is displayed as the "text body" of the page, and the content "PC" is displayed as the "selection item" of the page. Other examples of the content type 14f include “link designation” and “image display”.

The control means 10 includes a content storage means 14
When extracting the content data 14a from the content, the content type 14f shown in FIG. 4 is obtained for each content 14e, and then, according to a predetermined program, the terminal type information and the identifier (tag) corresponding to the content type 14f To determine. FIG. 5 is a table 16 showing a correspondence relationship for determining a tag on the program, in which tags according to the content type 16a and the terminal types 16b and 16c are defined. For example, for “heading” shown in FIG. 4, tags “<H> to <// H>” are defined in terminal type 1 (corresponding to terminal 40a using compact HTML), and type 2 (HDML is (Equivalent to terminal 40b used)
Defines a tag "<LINE> (and, if necessary, <BR> added at the end)". Also, in the case of the content type "start / end of page", the program is set so as to be automatically attached to each content data 14a. Then, based on the correspondence table 16, a tag is determined by the above program and attached to each content 14e.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show document data 18 and 19 in which the content 14e is tagged. This document data becomes the content to be distributed to the terminals 40a and 40b. FIG. 6 shows the document data 18 delivered to the terminal 40a, and the content corresponding to the page 430 in FIG. 3 is described in compact HTML. Of these, tag 18
a and 18b are automatically added to the beginning and end of the content 14e, and the tags 18c to 18e are added according to the content type 14f shown in FIG. The tag 18z is
This is added when the content 14e includes predetermined header information.

FIG. 7 shows document data distributed to the terminal 40b, in which the same contents as in FIG. 6 are described in HDML. Of these, tags 19a and 19b
Are automatically added to the beginning and end of the content 14e, and the tags 19c and 19e correspond to the content type 1 shown in FIG.
4f. Note that this page description language (H
In DML), tags corresponding to the tags 18d and 18z in FIG. 6 are not specified.

Each of the terminals 40a and 40b receiving these document data interprets the tag by a WWW browser installed therein and displays the same content (page 430 in FIG. 3) on the terminal.

As described above, in the present system 2, based on the same (single) content data 14a, the document data described in the description language for each of the terminals 40a and 40b is converted according to the access from each terminal. In other words, by dynamically generating and distributing, the same content can be displayed on different types of terminals.

Next, a process for creating and updating the above-mentioned contents will be described with reference to FIG. The second feature of the present invention is that the content can be created / updated from the user side by using the content registration terminal 30 connected to the present system 2.
Since communication between the content registration terminal 30 and the present system 2 uses http, which is a standard protocol of the Internet, a general WWW browser can be used for the content registration terminal 30 and the user can use it. No special settings are required.

In this figure, the content registration terminal 30
The user who accesses the system 2 performs a predetermined terminal operation to display the "content creation" page 500, inputs the user ID and password in the text box 500a, and selects the login button 500b (FIG. 8). (1)). The user ID and the password are specified in advance for a user who is permitted to create or update the content in the present system.
Is stored in By selecting the login button 500b, the user ID and the password are transmitted to the control unit 10, and the control unit 10 compares the transmitted information with the information stored in the user information storage unit 20 to authenticate the user. If they match, a “content list” page 510 is transmitted to the content registration terminal 30.

A "content list" page 510 is displayed on the content registration terminal 30 (FIG. 8 (2)). When the user selects a predetermined content ("product guide" 510a), the "product guide" 510a is displayed. The related information is displayed as a screen 600 (FIG. 8 (3)). FIG.
When the “new creation” button 520b is selected in (2), a predetermined content creation screen is displayed.

Screen 600 includes sub-screens 610, 620,
630. On the sub-screen 610, a plurality of pages included in the content “product guide” are visually displayed as a hierarchical structure, and on the sub-screen 620, the content of the page selected on the sub-screen 610 is displayed in an editable manner. . or,
The sub screen 630 is a screen for confirming the display on the terminal to which the page selected on the sub screen 610 has been distributed.

On the sub-screen 610, a predetermined page ("new product information" page 610a) can be selected, and the processing can be designated with a button 610b. For example,
When the “create new” button is selected, a new page is added below the “new product information” page 610a. When the “Delete” button is selected, a “New product information” page 610 is displayed.
a is deleted. When you select the "Sort" button,
The “new product information” page 610a moves to a predetermined position.

On the sub screen 620, the title "new product information" 62 is displayed as the content of the "new product information" page 610a.
0a, the text “This year's new product information.” 620b is displayed in the text box, and the contents 620a and 620b can be updated by operating the content registration terminal 30. The update content is determined by selecting the “Save” button 620c. The updated content is appropriately reflected on the sub screen 630. The sub screen 630 is the same as the display in FIG.

As described above, in the present invention, the content itself to be distributed to different types of terminals is the same (common). Therefore, once the content is created or updated, the content is distributed for each type of terminal desired to be distributed. There is no need to create (update) Creation and updating of contents are performed using standard WW
Since it can be performed using a W browser, the user can easily create (update) content using a general personal computer or the like.

The content distribution system of the present invention includes a computer, various peripheral devices such as a communication device, and the like.
It can be realized by a software program operated by a computer. This software program can be distributed via a computer-readable storage medium or a communication line.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By attaching the same content with an identifier designating the display of the content on a terminal that desires the content distribution, the same content can be displayed on different types of terminals.

Further, since the content data stored in the content storage means is single, the same content can be accessed simply by specifying the common address information (URL) regardless of the type of the terminal. There is no need for the user to manage different address information for each type. In particular,
When trying to browse the same content on different types of terminals depending on the situation, it is very convenient if the address information is common.

Further, since the content itself is the same (common), registration and updating of the content can be easily performed without being conscious of the type of the terminal desired to be distributed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content distribution system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing flow in the content distribution system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen on a terminal to which content is distributed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of content data.

FIG. 5 is a table showing tags according to content types and terminal types;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing document data distributed to a terminal.

FIG. 7 is another diagram showing the document data distributed to the terminal.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen on a content registration terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Content Distribution System 10 Control Means 10a Judgment Unit (Judgment Means) 14 Content Storage Means 30 Content Registration Terminals 40a, 40b, 40c Terminals Wanting Content Distribution 50 Network 60 Mobile Communication Network

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A content distribution system for distributing common content to terminals of different types, comprising: content storage means for storing the content in association with the type of the content; and determining the type of the terminal. A determination unit; and a control unit, wherein the control unit acquires type information of the terminal from the determination unit based on access from a terminal that desires distribution of predetermined content, and stores the corresponding content in the terminal. Content distribution system, wherein an identifier designating display of the content on the terminal is attached to the content according to the type of the content and the type information. 2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the control means distributes the content to the terminal using a description language corresponding to a type of the terminal so that the content can be browsed. 3. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the content distribution system is connected to a network, and the content can be created or updated from a predetermined content registration terminal connected to the network. A content distribution system, characterized in that: 4. The information processing apparatus further includes a user information storage unit configured to store information of a content creating user permitted to create or update the content, wherein the content is stored in association with the information of the content creating user. The control means, when receiving a request for creation or update of the content from the content registration terminal, determines whether to allow creation or update of the content based on information of the content creation user. 3. The content distribution system according to 3. 5. A content distribution method for distributing common content to terminals of different types, comprising: storing the content in association with a type of the content; and determining a type of the terminal. Acquiring the type information of the terminal based on an access from a terminal desiring distribution of the predetermined content, and when distributing the corresponding content to the terminal, according to the type of the content and the type information, Attaching an identifier designating display of the content on the terminal to the content.