JP2002132657A - Information distributing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a portable terminal such as a portable telephone or a portable information terminal to make a response even when communications between a use client and a service provider is discontinuous at the time of acquiring information with a hyper text. SOLUTION: A mail server is connected through a network to a portable terminal, and the mail server is provided with an information data base for assigning a plurality of mail addresses, and for storing information data corresponding to the mail addresses. Also, the portable terminal transmits an electronic mail to the mail server, and the mail server extracts the information data corresponding to the mail address from the information data base, and transmits the information data as an electronic mail to the portable terminal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information distribution system using a network such as the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, services using a network such as the Internet are connected to a Web server,
The user displayed the document using viewing-only software (hereinafter, referred to as a web browser).

[0003] Further, it is possible to sequentially follow information at a connection destination from a connection destination (also referred to as a link destination) existing in a document displayed by a Web browser. This is called a hyperlink, and a document written in a format that realizes the hyperlink is called a hypertext.

[0004]

However, portable terminals such as portable telephones, PDAs (personal digital assistants), and portable personal computers with built-in or connected communication means have the following inconveniences. Displaying documents was only possible on models with a browser. When using a mobile terminal such as a mobile terminal, W
Even when a request is made to send a document using a service using an web server, communication may be terminated due to the state of radio waves before a response is obtained. Alternatively, due to lack of Internet bandwidth, communication may be terminated due to a time limit while the user is waiting for a response. Furthermore, in the case of obtaining information in hypertext in a service using a Web server, communication must be continuous between a request from a user and a response from a service provider. However, when a mobile terminal such as a portable terminal is used, continuity may be lost depending on the state of radio waves and communication may be terminated before a response is obtained. Furthermore, due to lack of Internet bandwidth, communication may be terminated due to time restrictions while the user is waiting for a response. In any case, the user must make a request again.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information distribution system according to the present invention is an information distribution system in which a mail server and a portable terminal are connected via a network. Adopt means.

That is, in the first aspect, a mail server and a portable terminal are connected via a network, the mail server has a plurality of mail storage units corresponding to mail addresses, and information data corresponding to the mail addresses. And a monitoring means for monitoring whether the e-mail has arrived at the mail storage unit in the mobile terminal, wherein the mobile terminal transmits an e-mail to the mail address of a mail server. Transmitting means for extracting information data corresponding to the e-mail address from the information database and transmitting it as an e-mail to the portable terminal of the transmission source of the e-mail when the e-mail has arrived.

In the above configuration, a plurality of mail addresses are allocated to the mail server, a mail storage unit for storing the e-mails arrived at each mail address, and information data corresponding to each mail address are provided. When the e-mail is transmitted, the corresponding information data is transmitted to the portable terminal as an e-mail. The mobile terminal is a concept including a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a movable personal computer with built-in or connected communication means, and the like.

That is, in the present invention, a mail server and a portable terminal are connected via a network, a plurality of mail addresses are assigned to the mail server, a mail storage unit corresponding to the mail address, An information database that stores in advance information data corresponding to the e-mail address of the mail server in the mobile terminal, and in the mail server, whether the e-mail has arrived in the mail storage unit Monitoring means for monitoring the e-mail, and, if arriving, transmitting means for extracting information data corresponding to the e-mail address from the information database and transmitting it as an e-mail to the portable terminal of the transmission source of the e-mail. The terminal receives the information data as an e-mail and stores the information data in a mail server. When including the email address permits the transmission of e-mail to the mail server by selecting an email address.

[0009] In the above configuration, since the mail address is included in the information data, the portable terminal can select the mail address and receive the next information data one after another.

That is, in the third aspect, the web server and the input terminal are connected via a network, and the mail address of the portable terminal is input from the input terminal and transmitted to the web server. A menu database storing information in advance, and menu information creating means for creating an e-mail including the menu information, attaching the e-mail address of the portable terminal to a mail server, and providing the mail server with the menu information To the mobile terminal.

[0011] Accessing the WEB server from the input terminal,
The menu information can be transmitted from the web server to the mobile terminal by inputting the mail address of the mobile terminal.

That is, in the present invention, the menu information includes the mail address, and the portable terminal selects a mail address recorded in the received information data and transmits the selected mail address to the mail server.

In the above configuration, since the menu information includes the mail address, the portable terminal can select the mail address and receive the information data.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the information distribution system 1. The mail server 2 is connected to the mobile terminal 3 via a network 4 such as the Internet.
1, 32, ..., 3m.

A plurality of mail addresses are assigned to the mail server 2, and a mail storage unit # 1 (211), a mail storage unit # 2 (212),... For storing electronic mail transmitted to each mail address. Mail storage unit #n (21
n), and an information database 22 storing information data corresponding to each mail address. In the information database 22, information data # 1 (221), information data # 2 (222),
..., information data #n (22n) is stored. That is, the information data # 1 (221) is stored in the mail storage unit # 1 (2
11) and the information data # 2 (222) are stored in the mail storage unit #
2 (212),..., And information data #n (22n) correspond to the mail storage unit #n (21n), respectively.

The information data 221, 222,...
, 22n may include the mail address of the mail server 2.

Further, the mail server 2 has a mail server program 23 and mail storage units 211, 212,.
A monitoring unit 24 for monitoring whether an electronic mail has arrived at 21n, and a transmitting unit 25 for extracting information data 221, 222,..., 22n from the information database 22 and transmitting the extracted data as electronic mail.

The mail server program 23 has a function of transmitting and receiving an electronic mail. The received electronic mail is stored in a corresponding mail storage unit # 1 (21) based on the mail address.
1), mail storage units # 2 (212),..., And mail storage units #n (21n). Further, each of the mail storage units 211, 212,..., 21n can store a plurality of electronic mails.

The portable terminals 31, 32,..., 3m have a mail function and can transmit and receive electronic mail via the network 4.

Further, the monitoring means 24 is provided in each mail storage unit #
1 (211), mail storage # 2 (212),...
It monitors whether a new electronic mail has arrived at the mail storage unit #n (21n), and checks the mail storage units 211, 212,.
When a new e-mail arrives at 21n, the transmitting means 2
In step 5, the information data 221, 222,..., 22n corresponding to the mail address are extracted from the information database 22, and an electronic mail is created. Information data 221, 22
The electronic mail including 2,..., 22n is returned to the transmission source via the mail server program 23.

FIG. 2 shows portable terminals 31, 32,.
Is an explanatory diagram of a mechanism by which an e-mail arrives at. The communication carrier mail server 5 is connected to the network 4, and the e-mail transmitted to the mobile terminals 31, 32,..., 3 m via the network 4 passes through the communication carrier mail server 5 to each mobile terminal 31. , 32, ..., 3m.

The communication carrier mail server 5 has portable terminals 31, 32,...
, 51s, and a mobile carrier mail server program 52 for sending and receiving e-mails.

The portable mail storage units 511, 512,...
The electronic mail transmitted to the mobile terminals 31, 32,..., 3m is temporarily stored in the 51s, and the mobile business mail server program 52 stores the mobile mail storage unit 51.
, 51s are repeatedly transmitted until the portable terminals 31, 32,..., 3m receive them.

Next, the portable terminals 31, 32,.
The operation of sending an e-mail and receiving desired information data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the portable terminals 31, 32,..., 3m
Then, when there is desired information, the information data 221, 2
An electronic mail is transmitted to the mail addresses corresponding to 22,..., 22n (S100). In mail server 2,
When the e-mail is received by the mail server program 23, the mail storage units 211 and 21 corresponding to the mail address
,..., 21n (S11)
0). Here, in the monitoring means 24, the mail storage unit 21
At 1, 212,..., 21n, it is monitored whether a new electronic mail has arrived.

The mail storage units 211, 212,..., 2
1n, the transmission means 2
, 22n corresponding to the mail storage units 211, 212,..., 21n is converted into an electronic mail, and the mail server program 23 transmits the electronic mail to the portable terminal 31, 32, ..., 3m
(S111).

The details of the monitoring means 24 and the transmitting means 25 will be described later.

In the portable terminals 31, 32,..., 3m,
Information data 221, 22 returned as e-mail
, 22n are received and the contents are confirmed (S1
01).

By the way, the portable terminals 31, 32,.
At 3 m, the state of the radio wave or the mobile terminals 31, 32,.
·························································································································· 3m
····································································································································

Next, information data 221, 222,.
, 22n include the mail address of the mail server 2 with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 and the screen of the mobile terminal of FIG. S100 to S101 of the mobile terminal
And the processing of S110 to S111 of the mail server are the same as those described in the flowchart of FIG.

Here, the portable terminals 31, 32,.
m, the information data 221, 222,...
n (S101), the information data 221, 222,
.., 22n include the mail address 401 as shown in the screen 400 of the mobile terminal in FIG.
2), the user selects the mail address 401 from the portable terminals 31, 32,..., 3m (S103), transmits an e-mail (S100), performs the above-described processing of S110 to S111 again, and sends the next information. Can be obtained (S101).

In order to send an e-mail to the mail address 401, a new mail address 401 may be input using the mail function of the portable terminals 31, 32,.

Next, details of the processing of the monitoring means 24 and the transmitting means 25 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the monitoring means 24, the mail storage unit 21 to be monitored
It is checked whether an e-mail has arrived for any one of 1, 212,..., 21n (S120). If there is a new mail (S121), the transmitting means 25
Information data 221, 222,... Corresponding to the mail addresses of the mail storage units 211, 212,.
, 22n are searched from the information data database 22 (S122), and the mail storage units 211, 212,.
, 3m, the information data 221 and 22 are stored in the mobile terminals 31, 32,...
The contents of 2,..., 22n are transmitted as electronic mail (S123).

Further, it is checked whether there is another new mail in the mail storage unit 21 (S121). If there is a new mail, the processes of S122 to S123 are repeated. When there is no new mail, the next mail storage unit 21
, 21n (S124), S
Steps S120 to S123 are repeated.

As described above, the mail storage units 211, 212,..., 21n to be monitored are always monitored to determine whether a new mail has arrived, and the information data 221, 222,. ..., 22n
As an e-mail.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 7 shows portable terminals 31, 32,.
input terminal 61, 62, ..., 6
t, the menu information is stored in the mobile terminals 31, 32,
... after transmitting to 3m, information data 221, 22
2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration when transmission / reception of 22n is started. FIG.

The input terminals 61, 62,..., 6t connect to the WEB server 7 via the network 4 such as the Internet, and the WEB server 7 is further connected to the mail server 2. , 6t input the mail addresses of the portable terminals 31, 32,..., 3m and transmit them to the WEB server 7. Web server 7
Then, an e-mail including the menu information 740 is created and transmitted to the mail server 2, and the mail server program 23
, 3m to the mobile terminals 31, 32, ..., 3m.

The input terminals 61, 62,..., 6t are terminals such as personal computers or portable terminals, and may be the same as the portable terminals 31, 32,.

Also, as in the first embodiment, the mail server 2 is connected to the portable terminals 31, 32,..., 3m via the network 4.

Mail server 2 and portable terminals 31, 32,.
.., 3m are the same as in the first embodiment.

The WEB server 7 includes a WEB server program 71, a menu page 72, a menu information creating means 73, and a menu database 74. WE
When receiving a data transmission request via the network 4, the B server program 71 searches for information corresponding to the request and transmits it to the request source.

The menu page 72 includes the input terminals 61 and 6
When there is a transmission request from 2,..., 6t, the input terminal 61, 62,.
t. The menu page 72 includes mobile terminals 31, 32,... As shown on a menu screen 410 in FIG.
A menu list 411 for selecting menu information 740 desired to be received at 3 m, and portable terminals 31, 32,.
The information on the input screen 412 of the e-mail address is included.

In the menu information creating means 73, the menu information 74 selected by the input terminals 61, 62,.
0 is retrieved from the menu database 74, an e-mail including the menu information 740 is created, and the portable terminal 31, 3
A mail address of 2,..., 3 m is attached, and transmitted to the mail server 2.

The menu database 74 stores menu information 740. The menu information 740 includes the mail address of the mail server 2 and the like.

The input terminals 61, 62,...
It has a B browser and displays information received via a network.

Next, the input terminals 61, 62,...
3m to the WEB server 7 from the mobile terminals 31, 32,.
The operation of receiving the menu information 740 as an e-mail at 3m, and further receiving the desired menu information 740 at the portable terminals 31, 32,..., 3m is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 and the screen of FIG. It will be described using FIG.

First, the input terminals 61, 62,..., 6t
Accesses the WEB server 7 via the WEB browser to request the menu page 72 (S200). W
In the EB server 7, the WEB server program 71 transmits the menu page 72 to the input terminals 61, 62,..., 6t (S220). Further, input terminals 61, 62,
..., at 6t, menu page 72 on the web browser
The menu screen 410 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the basis of the above, and the menu information 740 to be acquired is selected from the menu list 411. Further, the mail address of the portable terminal 31, 32,...
The user inputs the information to the Web server 12 and transmits it to the Web server 7 (for example, clicks the transmission button 413 in FIG. 9) (S201). WE
The B server 7 transmits to the input terminals 61, 62, ..., 6t that the selected menu information 74 and the mail addresses of the portable terminals 31, 32, ..., 3m have been received (S221).

In the WEB server 7, the menu information creating means 73 uses the selected menu information 740 to obtain information data 221, 222,.
An e-mail including an e-mail address corresponding to the e-mail address is created and a request for distribution is made to the mail server 2 (S222). The distribution destination is the mail address of the portable terminal 31, 32,..., 3m input from the input terminals 61, 62,. The mail server 2 transmits the e-mail via the mail server program 23 to the mobile terminals 31, 32,.
・ Send to 3m. As shown in FIG.
, 3m, the menu information 740 selected on the menu screen 410 is received as an electronic mail (S210).

The details of the processing of the menu information creating means 73 will be described later.

The mail server 2 delivers the requested electronic mail from the mail server program 23 (S
230).

Subsequently, the portable terminals 31, 32,.
And send the desired information data 221, 2
, 22n (S210 to S2)
14 and the processes of S231 to S232) are the same as those described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 in the first embodiment.

The monitoring means 24 and the transmitting means 25 of the mail server 2 are the same as those described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6 in the first embodiment.

Next, details of the processing of the menu information creating means 73 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

WE of input terminals 61, 62,..., 6t
The selection of the menu information 74 input from the B browser and the mail addresses of the portable terminals 31, 32,..., 3m are fetched (S240), and the input contents are checked (S2).
41).

The input contents are checked (S241), and if an error occurs, an error response is made (S247).

If there is no problem in the input contents, the information data 22 to be obtained based on the selected menu information 740
An electronic mail including mail addresses corresponding to 1, 222,..., 22n is created (S243). The created e-mail is transmitted to the mail server 2 (S244). If the transmission of the e-mail is normal (S245), a normal response is made (S246), and if an error occurs (S245), an error response is made (S247).

[0058]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, information can be obtained only by sending an e-mail to a specific e-mail address without using a portable terminal equipped with a Web browser.

Further, by repeatedly transmitting an e-mail by designating a mail address included in the information, it is possible to realize a hypertext without using a portable terminal having a WEB browser.

In the present invention using electronic mail, since electronic mail is temporarily stored in a mail server or a mobile carrier mail server, continuity is required in requests / responses in order to collect information in a hypertext format. And not.
Therefore, continuous information can be obtained even when communication is interrupted due to radio wave conditions or band shortage as in a portable terminal.

Further, if an e-mail corresponding to necessary information is left, it is possible to extract information as needed at any time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information distribution system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a mechanism for sending an electronic mail to a portable terminal.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing transmission / reception between a mobile terminal and a mail server.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing transmission / reception between a mobile terminal and a mail server when a mail address is included in information data.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing information data displayed on a portable terminal.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processing of a monitoring unit and a transmission unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information distribution system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing transmission / reception between an input terminal, a WEB server, a mobile terminal, and a mail server.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a menu screen displayed on the input terminal and selected contents displayed on the mobile terminal.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a process of a menu information creating unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information distribution system 2 Mail server 4 Network 5 Telecommunications carrier mail server 7 WEB server 22 Information data database 23 Mail server program 24 Monitoring means 25 Transmission means 31, 32, ..., 3m Mobile terminal 61, 62, ... , 6t input terminal 72 menu page 73 menu information creation means 74 menu database 211, 212,..., 21n mail storage unit 221, 222,..., 22n information data 511, 512,. 740 Menu information

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A mail server and a mobile terminal are connected via a network. The mail server has a plurality of mail storage units corresponding to mail addresses, and information storing information data corresponding to the mail addresses in advance. A database, the mobile terminal transmits an e-mail to the mail address of a mail server, and the mail server monitors whether the e-mail has arrived at the mail storage unit, If so, an information distribution system including a transmission unit that extracts information data corresponding to the mail address from the information database and transmits the information data as an electronic mail to a mobile terminal that has transmitted the electronic mail. 2. A mail server and a portable terminal are connected via a network, a plurality of mail addresses are assigned to the mail server, a mail storage unit corresponding to the mail address, and information data corresponding to the mail address. An information database that stores in advance the electronic mail, the mobile terminal sends an electronic mail to the mail address of a mail server, and the mail server monitors whether the electronic mail has arrived at the mail storage unit. And, when arriving, a transmitting means for extracting information data corresponding to the mail address from the information database to the mobile terminal of the source of the electronic mail and transmitting the information as an electronic mail. As an e-mail, and the above-mentioned information If you include a scan, information distribution system to select the e-mail address to enable the transmission of e-mail to the mail server. 3. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the web server and the input terminal are connected via a network, and the mail address of the mobile terminal is input from the input terminal and transmitted to the web server. The WEB server further includes: a menu database that stores menu information in advance; and a menu information creating unit that creates an e-mail including the menu information, attaches the e-mail address of the mobile terminal to the e-mail, and transmits the e-mail to the mail server. An information distribution system, wherein the mail server transmits an electronic mail including the menu information to a portable terminal. 4. The information distribution system according to claim 3, wherein the menu information includes the mail address, and the portable terminal selects a mail address recorded in the received information data and transmits the selected mail address to a mail server. An information distribution system, characterized in that: