JP2002133315A - Information provision system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information provision system capable of being utilized and only requiring a required fee even if a user does not register a data. SOLUTION: The present invention relates to an information provision system for a document management server 1 and the like which is provided with a memory part 2 for previously storing an information to be provided; and an account summing up part 3 for summing up an account information corresponding to a utilization circumstance of the information stored in the memory part 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information providing system in which information to be provided is stored in a storage means in advance, and the information is provided in response to a user request.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An information providing system such as a document management server for storing various information such as documents and templates such as spreadsheets and images such as clip art stores various kinds of information in storage means such as a large-capacity hard disk. In addition, the user can appropriately read the data when necessary.

[0003]

However, in such an information providing system, nothing can be utilized unless information is accumulated. Therefore, after installing the information providing system, the user installs various documents and the like in the storage means. The task of sequentially accumulating information such as images is forced.

[0004] Alternatively, it is necessary to request an external company to perform such information accumulation work and to have the data accumulation work performed on behalf of the outside trader. For this reason, a lot of man-hours and costs are required for the information storage work, and there is a problem that the introduction of the information providing system is not performed smoothly.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such problems. That is, the present invention is an information providing system including a storage unit that stores information to be provided in advance, and a charging totalization unit that totals charging information according to a use state of the information stored in the storage unit.

In the present invention, since the information to be provided is stored in the storage means in advance, the information can be used without storing the information when introducing the information providing system. In addition, since the fee is charged according to the use status of the information stored in the storage means, it is only necessary to pay a fee corresponding to the used information.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information providing system according to the present embodiment. Here, an example in which an information providing system is constructed in the document management server 1 is shown. In the document management server 1, accounting information is tabulated in accordance with a storage unit 2 that stores information to be provided in advance and information stored in the storage unit 2 (hereinafter, referred to as “preinstalled data”). And a charge totaling unit 3 that performs the charging.

The document management server 1 is connected to a network N such as a LAN or the Internet, and has a storage unit in accordance with instructions from computers (user PCs 10 and 11) on the side of the user (user) also connected to the network N. User pre-installed data stored in user PC
10, 11 can be provided.

[0009] The accounting section 3 has user registration data associated with each user. In the user registration data, charging information according to the usage status of the user is recorded. This billing information is updated every time the user uses the preinstalled data.

Here, as a charging method, when charging according to the use of the preinstalled data, charging is performed by the charging totaling unit 3 according to the number of times the user reads the preinstalled data from the storage unit 2 and the amount of information read. To update the corresponding user registration data. This billing may be totaled at a certain time (for example, at the end of the month) and billed monthly.

In the case of performing a prepaid billing method in which a fixed amount for using the preinstalled data is paid in advance, the prepaid amount (frequency) is recorded in the user registration data. Then, when using within the range of the prepaid amount (frequency), the prepaid amount (frequency) according to the usage is subtracted by the charge totaling unit 3, and the balance (remaining number) of the user registration data is updated. .

In this prepaid billing method, no new charge is billed when the user is using the money within the prepaid amount (frequency), and when the money is used within this range, the use is stopped or exceeded. The billing for the minute is recorded in the user registration data, and the billing is performed at the end of the month or the like.

[0013] Even if the payment is within the range of the prepaid amount (frequency), the balance (remaining number) is notified to the user at the end of the month, etc., and the amount corresponding to the balance or the remaining amount is settled or carried over to the next month. May be selected.

As another billing method, it is free to read preinstalled data by the user PCs 10 and 11 and display it on the screen, and only when a specific operation (save, print, copy, transfer, etc.) is performed. You may charge.

As another charging method, it is possible to charge free when the preinstalled data is used only by the user PC that has read the preinstalled data, and to charge when the data is transferred to another user PC.

As still another charging method, it is possible to charge free only when the preinstalled data is used in the same local area as the user PC that has read the preinstalled data, and to charge when the data is transferred to another network.

As described above, the storage unit 2 of the document management server 1
Since various data such as document templates and images such as clip arts are stored in advance, the user does not need to accumulate the data by himself and can use it immediately after introduction. In addition, since the fee is charged only when the information is used, the information can be used at a minimum necessary cost.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a use mode. In this use mode, the document management server 1 of the present embodiment is constructed in a file server installed in a network environment on the user side, and this file server is connected to the user PC 1.
0, 11, the scanner 12, and the printer 13 via the network N.

This print server is connected to a content server 20 such as a sales company via a network N. The content server 20 is connected to computers of external information providers through a network N.

In such a usage form, a content server 20 such as a sales company has external information providers
The preinstalled data is transferred via the network N. The content server 20 has a function of managing the content of the transferred preinstalled data.

The document management server 1 of the file server connected to the user's network environment stores preinstalled data at the time of installation. Further, the preinstalled data is sent from the content server 20 such as a sales company via the network N, and added and updated as necessary.

As pre-installed data effective in such a usage form, in addition to a document template and a clip art, the latest white paper issued by a government agency or a J
Data such as IS (Japanese Industrial Standard). That is, data that is updated as needed is effective.

The user reads the data to be added or updated as needed from the file server to the user PCs 10 and 11 via the network N. Then, charging is performed according to the use of this data.

Here, when the sales company installs the file server in the user's network environment, the registration fee of the preinstalled data is added to the file server fee and the system maintenance fee in advance, and the amount is set as the prepaid fee. May be. That is, when the user uses the pre-installed data, the pre-paid fee is subtracted from the pre-paid fee added to the file server fee in advance, and the balance of the pre-paid fee is settled at the end of the month, for example, or the user does not use the pre-installed data. In such a case, a payment such as refund of the prepaid fee is made.

This eliminates the need for the user to pay a prepaid fee by a separate contract after installing the file server, and allows the user to use the data immediately after installing the file server without being conscious of charging.

When a sales company or the like changes, for example, adds, updates, or deletes data in the user's file server via the network N, the data may be subtracted from the prepaid fee in accordance with the manner of the change. .

Further, the accounting section may be constructed in a file server or in an external organization such as a sales company. In the case of constructing in an external institution, the fact that the operation has been performed is transmitted to the external institution via the network N when the user reads out the data from the file server, or the operation is not performed in the user PCs 10 and 11. The information may be temporarily stored, and may be collectively transmitted to an external organization after a certain period of time. The charge totaling unit built in the external institution makes a predetermined charge according to the data use status of each user, and can perform a charge as needed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining another mode of use. In this usage mode, a document management server 1 is connected to a user's network environment, a storage unit 2 for preinstalled data is provided in the document management server 1, and a charging server 30 is connected to the same network environment. The charge totaling unit 3 is provided in 30.

The preinstalled data is stored in the storage unit 2 of the document management server 1 at the stage of installation, and the preinstalled data can be read out and used by the user PCs 10 and 11 connected to the same network. .

Further, the network environment of the user is connected to the network environment of the service center, so that new contents or the latest contents can be delivered from the contents server 20 of the service center to the document management server 1.

The accounting server 30 is separate from the document management server 1, and can perform accounting in accordance with the use status of the preinstalled data read from the document management server 1. Usage status is recorded for each user,
The accounting is performed by the various accounting methods described above,
Billing and payment can be performed as needed.

As described above, since the document management server 1 and the accounting server 30 are separately provided, when a new document management server is installed (expanded), a server having no accounting function can be prepared. In addition, a document management server can be installed for each type of data, so that data management can be clearly performed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining still another mode of use. In this example, a document management server 1 is installed in a network environment of a user, a storage unit 2 for preinstalled data is provided in the document management server 1, and a content server 20 is installed in a network environment of a service center.
The accounting server 30 is installed, and the accounting totaling unit 3 is provided in the accounting server 30. Each server is connected via a network N such as an intranet or the Internet.

Further, the network environment of the service center and the content servers 2 of the external information providing companies A and B
1 and 22 are connected via a network N.

The storage unit 2 of the document management server 1 connected to the user's network environment stores pre-installed data, and reads necessary data from the user PCs 10 and 11 connected to the same user's network environment. It can be put out.

When the user reads necessary data from the document management server 1 using the user PCs 10 and 11, the fact that the reading operation has been performed is sent to the charging server 30 of the service center via the network N. The accounting totaling unit 3 of the accounting server 3 manages the reading operation for each user and generates accounting information as needed.

On the other hand, the external information providing companies A and B create contents to be stored in the user's document management server 1 and store the contents in the content servers 21 and 22. This content is appropriately sent to the content server 20 of the service center via a network N such as the Internet, where it is collectively managed.

The service center organizes the contents according to the user's preference, and distributes only the contents required by the user to the user's document management server 1 via a network N such as the Internet.

For example, when the user wants to change or add the contents of the preinstalled clip art, the service center first confirms the data change from the user, and the clip center corresponding to the change is checked. Find external information providers A and B that own art.

If the matched clip art is charged, for example, the service center purchases the clip art from the external information providing companies A and B, and if there is no problem with the copyright or the like, the user is connected via the network N such as the Internet. To the recording unit 2 of the document management server 1.

Thus, new data matching the user's preference is registered in the user's document management server 1 as needed.

In each of the examples described above, updating and registration of pre-installed data and collection of billing information are performed via the network N. However, employees of the sales company or the service center directly send the information to the user side. The user may go out and use a medium such as a floppy disk or CD-ROM to update / register data and collect billing information.

The file server and the document management server 1
Can store not only preinstalled data but also data required by the user as appropriate, and use it as a normal server.

[0044]

As described above, the present invention has the following effects. That is, in the information provision system,
Since image data such as a document template and clip art are stored in advance, it is possible for the user to receive information without having to store the data by himself. In addition, by charging according to the use of data, the user does not need to pay unnecessary costs, and it is possible to promote the use of data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information providing system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a use mode.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating another usage mode.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating still another use mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Document management server, 2 ... Storage part, 3 ... Billing total part, 1
0: User PC, 20: Content server, 30: Billing server, N: Network

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G06F 13/00 540 G06F 13/00 540S

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An information providing apparatus comprising: a storage unit that stores information to be provided in advance; and a charging totalizing unit that totals charging information in accordance with a use state of the information stored in the storage unit. system. 2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the charge totaling unit subtracts a use limit number associated with a user of the information according to a use state of the information. 3. The accounting method according to claim 1, wherein the accounting module switches the accounting information aggregation method between within and outside of a usage limit number associated with a user of the information.
Information providing system described. 4. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said charging totaling means totalizes charging information in accordance with an amount of information provided to a user. 5. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said charging totaling means totals charging information according to the number of times information is provided to a user. 6. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said charging totaling means totals the charging information at a stage when the provided information is output from a user's computer to the outside. 7. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein said charging totaling means totals charging information in accordance with a change mode of information stored in said storage means.