JP2002222138A - Contents transmission method, contents receiving method, and contents delivery system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contents delivery system capable of efficiently offering information and advertisement in a specific category only for a fixed duration. SOLUTION: An information receiving terminal 103 informs a contents delivery request designating a category of contents, a contents delivery effective duration, and a subject character string of an E-mail to be delivered to an information delivery server 101. The information delivery server 101 selects contents matching the contents delivery request from information provided by an information providing terminal 102 to attach them to the E-mail and delivers it to the information receiving terminal 103. The information receiving terminal 103 classifies the received E-mail according to the subject character string and the receipt date of the delivered E-mail for surely offering the E-mail including the contents required for delivery to a user and automatically deletes the E-mail having expired and having lowered information value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content transmitting method, a content receiving method, and a content distribution system using an electronic mail or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of personal computers and portable terminals and an increase in the number of Internet users, many information distribution systems using communication networks have been developed. As a part of this, advertising activities for distributing direct electronic mail containing advertisement information to an unspecified number of users have been actively performed.

[0003] In addition, an information providing service has been started in which an advertisement fee is collected from an advertiser, and a part or all of a fee to be paid by a user for acquiring information is covered by the advertisement fee.

[0004] Specific examples of services and systems related to existing advertisement distribution are described below. JP-A-11-13636
No. 5 discloses an information distribution system in which a terminal automatically receives content desired to be periodically updated.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-195035 discloses information distribution dynamically responding to a temporal change in a user's distribution needs by using distribution history information and a relevance score with respect to distribution information input by a user. A method is disclosed.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-68987 discloses that in order to provide a data communication service at a low cost, user information is stored on a server side and an advertisement attached to transmission data based on the user information. An information communication system for changing information is disclosed.

[0007] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-99525 discloses a user profile in which information of interest to a user is recorded based on the life pattern of each user that changes periodically for each time zone, and the freshness of the information and the information on the information. An information providing method for distributing appropriate information content for each time zone using an article profile in which the number of accesses is recorded is disclosed.

[0008] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-134353 discloses that when transmitting information data with an attached advertisement, it is expected that the same advertisement is not distributed to all users, but the interest in the advertisement is high. A personalized advertisement distribution method has been disclosed in which an advertisement with a large amount of information is distributed to users who receive the information, and an advertisement with a small amount of information is distributed to users who are expected to be less interested. .

[0009] In these examples, an effective and efficient advertisement distribution is performed in accordance with the user's preference, and both the advertiser and the user who receives the advertisement distribution are satisfied.

[0010] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-167533 discloses an electronic mail firewall device which refuses to receive junk mail by an electronic mail address. In this example, from the user's point of view, an attempt is made to eliminate unwanted electronic mails.

[0011]

In many of the systems mentioned above, user preferences (objects of interest) are registered in advance in an advertisement distribution server-side system, and electronic information including information matching the user preferences is registered. Distribute mail to individual users. Such an electronic mail is called an opt-in mail, and there are already many websites that provide an opt-in mail service.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional opt-in mail service, when the registered personal information leaks to a third party, the advertisement distribution intermediary who has obtained the personal information is desired by the user corresponding to the personal information. However, there is a problem in that a large amount of electronic mail that is not desired by the user is received because information content or advertisement electronic mail that is not transmitted may be transmitted.

Further, the conventional system does not provide a method for setting an advertisement distribution period. Therefore, even if the user desires to distribute the advertisement only for a certain period of time, the user must semi-permanently continue to receive information regarding a certain product or not relating to the product or an electronic mail of the advertisement. In many cases, if the user updates or deletes the registration information in the server, the advertisement distribution can be stopped. However, there is a problem that the user has to work twice.

[0014] Furthermore, as the distribution of advertisements for individuals becomes popular, it is assumed that users will receive not only electronic mails requested by themselves but also electronic mails from an unspecified number of companies. . In this case, there is a need for a system that automatically deletes unnecessary electronic mails from many received electronic mails so that important electronic mails for users are not overlooked.

That is, in the current content distribution system, there is a problem that there is no means for the user to efficiently obtain information or advertisement of a specific genre for a certain fixed period.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and a content transmission method, a content reception method, and a content reception method that enable a user to efficiently obtain information or advertisement of a specific genre for a certain fixed period. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content distribution system.

[0017]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a content transmission method according to the present invention provides a content distribution request including a period during which distribution of a content designated by a user is permitted and an address of a content distribution destination. Information is registered in a content distribution list, content distribution request information within a content distribution validity period is extracted from the content distribution list, and the content is distributed based on the extracted content distribution request information.

According to the present invention, the content distribution server transmits the information including the content that matches the distribution request specified by the user only during the distribution validity period specified by the user, so that the quality of service to the user is improved. ,
In addition, the content provider can execute an effective content distribution in which the transmitted content is read with a high probability. Further, in the content receiving method according to the present invention, the reception-waiting content information including the content distribution request destination period and the content distribution request destination address registered in advance in the content distribution request destination is registered in the reception standby content list; Only the received data that matches a predetermined content selection condition registered in the content list waiting to be received is extracted.

According to the present invention, the content receiving terminal can select and extract only the electronic mail transmitted from the distribution request destination address, which is the distribution validity period specified by the user and which has requested distribution. For this reason, the user can preferentially acquire an electronic mail including desired content.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A content transmission method according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a content distribution effective period indicating a period during which content distribution from a user is permitted, a distribution destination address indicating a content distribution address, and A distribution list updating step of registering content distribution request information including a content distribution list in a content distribution list; a distribution information extracting step of extracting the content distribution request information within a content distribution validity period from the content distribution list; And transmitting a content based on the extracted content distribution request information.

Thus, the content distribution server
Since the content is transmitted to the destination address specified by the user only during the distribution validity period specified by the user, the quality of service for the user is improved, and effective content distribution can be executed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content transmission method, comprising: a content distribution validity period indicating a period during which content distribution from a user is permitted; a distribution destination address indicating a content distribution destination address; A distribution list updating step of registering content distribution request information including content attribute information indicating the content distribution list in a content distribution list, and a distribution information extracting step of extracting the content distribution request information within a valid period of content distribution from the content distribution list Selecting a content that matches the content attribute information of the extracted content distribution request information from a content management database in which content is stored; and selecting the selected content based on the extracted content distribution request information. Delivery That is one having a content transmission step.

[0023] Thereby, the content distribution server:
It is possible to distribute the specified content and the content adapted to various attribute information on the content receiving terminal to the specified distribution destination address only during the distribution validity period specified by the user.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content transmitting method, comprising: a content distribution validity period indicating a period during which content distribution from a user is permitted; a distribution destination address indicating a content distribution destination address; A distribution list update step of registering content distribution request information including content attribute information indicating content distribution information and content identification information composed of an arbitrary character string in a content distribution list; and Extracting distribution information to be extracted, selecting a content that matches the content attribute information of the extracted content distribution request information from a content management database storing the content, and adding the content identification information to the content Sent data A transmission data generation step of generating, those having a content transmission step of delivering on the basis of the transmission data to the extracted content distribution request information.

Thus, the content distribution server:
Only for the delivery validity period specified by the user, an arbitrary character string can be added to the content adapted to the specified content attribute information to the specified delivery destination address and distributed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the content transmission method according to the third aspect, the content attribute information includes a content type indicating a category or a genre of the content, a data format of the content, and a data amount of the content. This is a content transmission method that includes at least one of the limit value and charging method information.

Thus, the content distribution server
It is possible to distribute contents adapted to a category designated by the user, a data display capability of the terminal, or a fee allowable by the user.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the content transmission method according to the third aspect, in the transmission data generating step, the content is a text of an electronic mail and the content identification information is added to a subject field. This is a content transmission method for creating an electronic mail to be transmitted.

[0029] Thereby, the content distribution server:
The content designated by the user can be transmitted by electronic mail with an arbitrary character string added to the subject field.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the content transmission method according to the fourth aspect, the transmission data generating step includes adding an advertisement content to the content in accordance with the accounting method information included in the content attribute information. This is a content transmission method to be attached.

Thus, the content distribution server:
Since the advertisement content is attached to the information to be distributed to the user according to the payment amount permitted by the user, it is possible to exempt all or part of the fee for receiving the content.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the content transmission method according to any one of the first to third aspects, the distribution information extracting step includes the step of extracting the content distribution request information whose distribution validity period has passed by the content distribution list. Remove from.

[0033] Thereby, the content distribution server:
Since the distribution data whose distribution expiration date has passed is appropriately deleted from the content distribution list, this is a content transmission method that can prevent a user from erroneously distributing undesired content.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content receiving method, comprising: a content distribution effective period indicating a period in which content distribution is permitted in advance registered in a content distribution request destination; and a distribution request destination which is an address of the content distribution request destination. A receiving queue list updating step of registering the receiving queue content information including the address in the receiving queue content list, and a content selecting step of extracting only received data matching predetermined content selection conditions registered in the receiving queue content list And a content receiving method including:

Thus, the content receiving terminal holds the information regarding the content for which the content distribution request has been issued as a content list waiting to be received, so that it is easy to determine whether or not the received information is information including the content desired by the user. Can be determined.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the content receiving method according to the eighth aspect, the content distribution validity period, a distribution destination address indicating a content distribution destination address, and content attribute information indicating a content attribute are provided. The content receiving method further includes a distribution request transmitting step of transmitting content distribution request information including the following to a content distribution request destination.

Thus, the content receiving terminal can determine the type of the content to be received, the data format,
Attribute information such as a data amount limit value can be specified.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the content receiving method according to the ninth aspect, the distribution request transmitting step further includes content distribution request information further including content identification information consisting of an arbitrary character string added to the distribution content. And the waiting list updating step is a content receiving method of registering the waiting content information further including the content identification information in the waiting content list.

Thus, the content receiving terminal can specify an arbitrary character string for identifying the received content.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the content receiving method according to the tenth aspect, the received data is
In the content receiving method, the content is a text of an electronic mail and the content identification information is an electronic mail added to a subject field.

Thus, the content receiving terminal can recognize an arbitrary character string designated for identifying the received content as a subject of the electronic mail without reading the text of the electronic mail.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the content receiving method according to the eleventh aspect, the content selection condition is such that the source of the received electronic mail matches the distribution request destination address and the received electronic mail Is a character string described in the subject column of the content reception information, and the reception date and time of the received electronic mail is either within or outside of the content distribution validity period. . With this, the content receiving terminal refers to the content list waiting to be received, and the address of the source of the electronic mail and the character string in the subject column match, and the reception date and time of the electronic mail are within the validity period of the content distribution. Since a certain electronic mail can be selected, an electronic mail including content desired by the user can be preferentially presented to the user. Alternatively, referring to the content list waiting to be received, an email whose source address of the electronic mail and the character string of the subject column match and whose date and time of the electronic mail are out of the valid content distribution period is selected. Can automatically delete emails that contain user-desired content, but whose information has become out-of-date due to the expiration of the distribution effective period, or lowering the priority when presenting to the user can do.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the content receiving method according to the eleventh aspect, the content selection condition is such that the source of the received electronic mail matches the distribution request destination address, and A content string that matches the content identification information, and the transmission date and time of the received electronic mail is either within or outside the content distribution validity period. . Thus, the content receiving terminal refers to the content list waiting to be received, and matches the address of the source of the electronic mail and the character string in the subject column, and sets the date and time of the electronic mail within the validity period of the content distribution. Since a certain e-mail can be selected, e-mail including the content desired by the user can be viewed without discarding the content required by the user at a later date without browsing during the validity period. . Alternatively, referring to the content list waiting to be received, an email whose source address and character string in the subject column match and whose email transmission date / time is out of the valid content distribution period is selected. Can automatically delete emails that contain user-desired content, but whose information has become out-of-date due to the expiration of the distribution effective period, or lowering the priority when presenting to the user can do.

A program according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is for causing a computer to execute the content transmission method according to any one of the first to third aspects.

As a result, the content distribution server:
It has the same action as the aspect described in any of the first to third aspects.

A program according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention causes a computer to execute the content receiving method according to any one of the eighth to tenth aspects.

Thus, the content receiving terminal has the same operation as in any one of the eighth to tenth aspects.

A program according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention causes a computer to execute electronic mail browsing processing, electronic mail transmission / reception processing, and the content receiving method according to any of the eighth to tenth aspects. It is for.

Thus, the content receiving terminal has the same operation as browsing, transmitting and receiving electronic mail, and any one of the eighth to tenth aspects.

A computer-readable recording medium according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention stores a program for causing a computer to execute the content transmission method according to any one of the first to third aspects. .

A computer-readable recording medium according to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention stores a program for causing a computer to execute the content receiving method according to any one of the eighth to tenth aspects. is there.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium comprising: a computer for reading electronic mail; transmitting and receiving electronic mail; A program for executing a content receiving method is recorded.

The content distribution server according to the twentieth aspect of the present invention transmits content distribution request information including a content distribution effective period indicating a period during which content distribution is permitted and a distribution destination address indicating a content distribution destination address. A distribution request registration processing unit for registering in a content distribution list, and a content distribution for extracting the content distribution request information within the content distribution validity period from the content distribution list, and transmitting the content based on the extracted content distribution request information And a processing unit.

As a result, the content distribution server
Since the content is transmitted to the destination address specified by the user only during the distribution validity period specified by the user, the quality of service for the user is improved, and effective content distribution can be executed.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the content distribution server according to the twentieth aspect, an arbitrary terminal is made to execute the content receiving method according to any one of the eighth to tenth aspects. 20. The content distribution server according to claim 20, further comprising a program distribution unit that distributes the program. Thus, the content distribution server has means for distributing a program for receiving and browsing the content to any terminal, so that it is possible to provide a content distribution service to an unspecified number of arbitrary users. Has an action.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the content distribution server according to the twentieth aspect, a content distribution request is received from any content providing server that provides the content, and the content distribution server receives the content and the content from the content providing server. And a content registration processing unit for collecting content attribute information indicating the attribute information of the content. With this, the content distribution server distributes the content provided from the content providing server to the content receiving terminal.
It functions as an intermediary between the content providing server and the content receiving terminal, and can perform efficient content distribution according to the needs of both.

A content receiving terminal according to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention provides a content delivery terminal including a content delivery validity period indicating a period in which a content delivery specified by a user is permitted, and a delivery destination address indicating a content delivery destination address. A distribution request creation unit that creates request information, and an editing unit that registers reception-waiting content information including the content distribution validity period and a distribution request destination address that is an address of a content distribution request destination in a reception waiting content list.
A reception processing unit that receives reception data including content,
An analysis unit that extracts only received data that matches predetermined content selection conditions registered in the content list waiting to be received.

As a result, the content receiving terminal holds the information on the content for which the content distribution request has been issued as the content list waiting to be received, so that it is easy to determine whether or not the received information is information including the content desired by the user. Can be determined.

A content distribution system according to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention provides a content distribution server according to the twentieth aspect, a content receiving terminal according to the twenty-third aspect,
And a content providing server for providing content.

As a result, the content distribution server
Only during the distribution validity period specified by the user, information including content matching the distribution request information specified by the user is transmitted. Therefore, the quality of service for the user is improved, and the content provider can execute an effective content distribution in which the transmitted content is read with a high probability.

Further, the content receiving terminal can select and extract only the information transmitted from the distribution request destination address for which the distribution is requested, which is the distribution validity period specified by the user. Therefore, the user can preferentially obtain information including desired content.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an information distribution server 101 manages information content and distributes the content to an arbitrary information receiving terminal.

The information providing terminals 102 a to 102 c provide contents to the information distribution server 101. After this,
The information providing terminals 102a to 102c are collectively referred to as an information providing terminal 102. The information providing terminal 102 creates a content, and provides the created content to the information distribution server 101.

The information receiving terminals 103a to 103c receive the content from the information distribution server 101 and display the received content. Thereafter, the information receiving terminal 103a
The information receiving terminal 103 is collectively referred to as the information receiving terminal 103.

The network 104 includes an information distribution server 101 and at least one or more information providing terminals 102.
And at least one or more information receiving terminals 103 are connected. The network 104 includes an information distribution server 101, an information providing terminal 102, and an information receiving terminal 1.
03 can communicate with each other.

The operation of the information distribution system configured as described above will be briefly described below.

The information distribution server 101 collects contents from a plurality of information providing terminals 102 and creates a contents list in which the collected contents are classified by genre (category). Then, the created content list is published on a web page or the like, and can be referred to from any receiving terminal. Here, the content is data expressed in an arbitrary format such as text, still image, sound, and moving image. Specific contents include stock price information, weather forecast, survey report, product advertisement, electronic magazine, and the like. is there.

The information receiving terminal 103 is connected to the information distribution server 1
Reference is made to the web page published by the Web site 01 or by other means, and the information distribution server 101 is notified of the content distribution request information describing the content type of interest, the content distribution effective period, the content identification information, and the like. At the same time, on the information receiving terminal 103 side,
The content distribution request information is held as reception waiting content information.

The information distribution server 101 has the information receiving terminal 1
03 receives the content distribution request information transmitted by
The content matching the content distribution request information is selected from the content list, and the information receiving terminal 103
Distribute to

The content distribution validity period included in the content distribution request information is the date and time when the user starts accepting the distribution of the content and the date and time when the distribution ends.
The information distribution server 101 checks the distribution validity period at the time of content distribution, and transmits the content to the requested information receiving terminal 103 only within the validity period.
Therefore, the information receiving terminal 103 can receive the content distribution only for a certain period desired by the user.

For example, the user of the information receiving terminal 103
If you are considering purchasing a car within the next month, you can receive information (advertisements) about the car for only one month. This has an advantage that the information distribution server 101 and the information providing terminal 102, which are information providers, can perform an efficient advertising activity.

[0073] Similarly, the content identification information is metadata added to the content for identifying the content distributed from the information distribution server 101. The content identification information is information that has been previously transmitted from the information receiving terminal 103 to the information distribution server 101 as a part of the content distribution request information. For example, when the information distribution server 101 distributes a content to the information receiving terminal 103 by electronic mail, the content identifier specified by the information receiving terminal 103 (here, text data) is set in the subject field of the electronic mail. Describe. As a conventional method, a method of classifying an electronic mail according to an electronic mail transmission source address is known.
However, the information distribution server 101 to which content is requested is not always the same as the distribution source that actually distributes the content. Even in such a case, the information receiving terminal 103 can divide the electronic mail into a predetermined classification based on the character string in the subject column. Providing a means for classifying and selecting an electronic mail according to the subject of the electronic mail is useful for a user who browses the received content.

In some cases, the information distribution server 101 merely mediates the content distribution and does not manage the content itself. In this case, each information providing terminal 1
02 holds the content, and the information distribution server 10
The content is directly delivered from the information providing terminal 102 to the information receiving terminal 103 with the intermediary of the first. The information providing terminal 102 has been notified of the content distribution request information from the information distribution server 101, and based on this, creates an e-mail with the same function as above added to the content conforming to the request information.

Further, since the information receiving terminal 103 can specify the conditions relating to the content to the information distribution server 101 which is a content distribution server, the data display capability of the information receiving terminal 103 and the content browsing time which can be secured by the user can be specified. In addition, the information distribution server 101 can distribute contents adapted to a fee cost that can be accepted by the user.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the information distribution server 101 and the information receiving terminal 103 in the present embodiment will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 shows the information receiving terminal 103 in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the configuration of FIG. This is the information distribution server 10
1 is a first embodiment in which content delivery request information is notified to an electronic mail and content attached to the electronic mail is received.

The data processing unit 202 is the information distribution server 1
No. 01 is notified of the content distribution request information, and the content transmitted from the information distribution server 101 is analyzed, displayed, and stored. The data processing unit 202 includes the units described below.

The data storage unit 203 is a nonvolatile storage device for storing the contents of the content distribution request information and the received contents, and is freely accessible from the data processing unit 202.

The communication unit 204 performs mutual communication with the information distribution server 101 and the information providing terminal 102 via a network. 2, the communication unit 204 includes a data processing unit 2
02. That is, the communication unit 204 is a communication unit (network interface) as a hardware resource of the information receiving terminal 103. However,
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which some functions of the communication unit 204 are incorporated in the data processing unit 202.

The components of the data processing unit 202 and their functions will be described below.

The metadata obtaining unit 205 receives, that is, obtains, from the web page of the information distribution server 101, the metadata in which information on the contents which can be distributed is described. That is, the information distribution server 101 presents the information receiving terminal 103 with information on the content that can be distributed via a web page or the like.

The distribution request creation unit 206 creates distribution request information as distribution conditions from content distribution request information, which is information on content desired to be distributed, input by the user, based on the metadata acquired by the metadata acquisition unit 205.
The distribution request creating unit 206 can include a graphical user interface (GUI) for editing content distribution request information by a user, or an editor.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the content distribution request information created by the distribution request creating section 206. As shown in FIG. 12, the content distribution request information includes the content type 1
201, data format 1202 of text, still image, audio, moving image, etc. of the content, data amount limit value 1
203, a content distribution validity period 1205, content identification information 1206, billing method information 1207, and the like. Further, in a case where the terminal that transmits the content distribution request information is different from the terminal that actually receives the content, the content distribution request information can include the content transmission destination address 1204.

As described above, the content distribution validity period is data indicating the distribution reception start date and time and the distribution reception end date and time of the content distribution. The content identification information is metadata added to the content in order for the information receiving terminal 103 to classify the distributed content. The content type is a character string or code (code) indicating the genre (category) of the content content, and is presented by the information distribution server 101. The data format of the content is a data format that can be decoded by the information receiving terminal 103 and that the user desires or permits viewing / browsing.

The data amount limit value refers to the information receiving terminal 10
3 is a limit value of the amount of data that can be received. The data format and the data amount limit value are set according to the performance of the information receiving terminal 103 and user preferences. The billing method information is information indicating a permissible payment amount for receiving the content. In the present embodiment, three ranks of charging are set: rank A is full-user charging, rank B is half-user charging, and rank C is no-user charging. Information distribution server 10
1 attaches advertisement data to content to be delivered to the information receiving terminal 103 according to the charging rank specified by the information receiving terminal 103. In this way, contents that do not always match the content attribute information specified by the user are also attached to the electronic mail distributed to the user according to the payment amount permitted by the user. As a result, it is possible to exempt the payment of the entire fee or a part of the fee for receiving the content.

Although the content identification information shown in FIG. 12 is a character string representing a content type that can be visually deciphered by the user, an idea (ID
It is also possible to use an encrypted character string such as EA). Alternatively, a character string obtained by adding a character string not easily conceived by a third party to the character string representing the content type can be used as the content identification information. As a result, the reliability of the content identification information is improved, and the determination of whether to read the electronic mail can be completely automated. As a result, the effect of preventing unnecessary electronic mail such as spam mail from being seen by the user can be enhanced.

The content distribution request information can be described in a page description language XML or an extensible data description language similar to XML. If the content distribution request information is described in XML, the content distribution request information can be easily analyzed in the information distribution server. In addition, mutual cooperation with other systems, and
There is also an effect that data exchange becomes easy.

The electronic mail editing unit 207 converts the distribution request information created by the distribution request creating unit 206 into an electronic mail format. The address of the information distribution server 101 is set as the destination address of the electronic mail. In addition, the electronic mail editing unit 207 uses the information in which at least the content distribution validity period and the content identification information of the content distribution request information are set as the content to be received as the content to be received, and stores the content information management database 213 in the data storage unit 203. It also has the function of saving to

The electronic mail transmission processing unit 208 transmits the electronic mail generated by the electronic mail editing unit 207 to the information distribution server 101.

The electronic mail reception processing unit 209 receives all electronic mail transmitted through the Internet. However, the e-mail distributed from the information distribution server 101 includes content according to the content distribution request information specified by the information receiving terminal 103,
Content identification information is added to the subject field.

The electronic mail analysis section 210 stores the content information management database 21 waiting for reception in the data storage section 203.
3 is compared with the title which is a character string in the subject field of the e-mail received by the e-mail reception processing unit 209, and the reception date of the e-mail and the reception of the data storage unit 203 are compared. The content distribution validity period stored in the waiting content information management database 213 is compared. Electronic mail analyzer 210
Is classified into content that matches the content identification information and is received within the content distribution expiration date, and other content. Then, the electronic mail analysis unit 210
Is the content that matches the content distribution request information,
Content management database 21 of data storage unit 203
Save to 4.

The display section 211 has an electronic mail analysis section 210.
Displays the content determined to match the content distribution request information. The display unit 211 performs content decoding processing, text display, and graphic drawing processing. Further, the display unit 211 includes a data storage unit 203.
The content stored in the content management database 214 can also be displayed.

The control unit 212 controls the communication unit 204 and the metadata acquisition unit 205 to the display unit 211 constituting the data processing unit 202, and executes a content receiving process.

The content waiting information management database 213 is a database for managing information relating to content waiting to be received.

The content management database 214 is a database that stores received contents.

The contents included in the electronic mail received by the electronic mail reception processing unit 209 can include not only text data but also still images, audio data, and moving image data. When the content includes data other than text, the information receiving terminal 103 has a decoding unit corresponding to the content data.

Further, only the link information to the content (for example, the URL of the website where the content exists) may be described in the electronic mail text. In this case, the information receiving terminal 103 downloads the content from the designated website, or
It has means for reading stream data.

[0099] The components from the metadata acquisition unit 205 to the electronic mail transmission processing unit 208 relating to electronic mail transmission are not essential components of the information receiving terminal 103. For example, a distribution request setting means such as a common gateway interface (CGI) provided on the server side can be used. However, the content distribution request information registered in the information distribution server 101 needs to be stored also on the information receiving terminal 103 side for electronic mail classification at the time of electronic mail reception. In this case, the data processing unit 202
It must have a means for storing the content distribution request information in the data storage unit 203.

The information receiving terminal 103 is connected to the information distribution server 1
A process for issuing content distribution request information and a process for receiving content are executed.

Hereinafter, these processes will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the information receiving terminal 103. The content distribution request information processing is a process executed according to an instruction from a user. On the other hand, the content reception processing is automatically monitored when the electronic mail is received, and is executed when the information distribution server 101 receives the transmitted electronic mail. However, it is also possible to execute the content reception processing in accordance with an instruction from the user.

[0103] When the user performs an operation on the content distribution request information, the control unit 212 proceeds to step S302. At the same time, the control unit 212
Continuously monitors the reception of the electronic mail, and when the reception of the electronic mail is confirmed, the process proceeds to step S303. If there is no operation from the user and there is no received e-mail, the process enters a standby loop (S301).

Content distribution request transmission processing step S3
02 is executed mainly from the metadata acquisition unit 205 to the electronic mail transmission processing unit 208 in FIG. In the content distribution request transmission process, the content distribution request information is notified to the information distribution server 101. In the present embodiment, electronic mail is used for the notification of the content distribution request information. However, in addition to the electronic mail, a notification using the HTTP protocol, a file transfer method using the Internet facsimile or the file transfer protocol (FTP) is also possible. Details of the processing in step S302 will be described later.

The content receiving processing step S303 is as follows.
Mainly, the electronic mail reception processing unit 209 shown in FIG.
11 is performed. In the content receiving process, the electronic mail transmitted by the information distribution server 101 is received, and the content included in the electronic mail is decoded and displayed. Details of the processing in step S303 will be described later.

The end determination processing step S304 is executed by the control section 212 in FIG. In this step, it is determined whether or not all the processes related to information reception are to be ended. Normally, the process returns to step S301 to continue the processing.
Terminating the process corresponds to turning off the power of the information receiving terminal 103 or terminating the information receiving program.

Next, a content distribution request transmission processing step
S302 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0108] The metadata processing unit 205 acquires metadata relating to the content that the user wants to distribute (S401).

Next, this content distribution request information refers to the metadata acquired in step S401,
Or by the user through an appropriate editor (S40
2). Here, the content distribution request information created by the distribution request creation unit 206 is a condition relating to content to be distributed from the information distribution server 101 to the information receiving terminal 103, and includes weather forecast, stock price information, latest PC specification comparison information, new PC Describe the type of content such as advertisement related to the product, the data format of the content such as text, still image, audio, and moving image, the limit value of the data size, and the validity period of the content distribution, which is the period for which the user requests distribution. .

Next, the electronic mail editing unit 207 creates an electronic mail with the content distribution request information created in step S402 as a text (S403). The address of the information distribution server 101 is specified as the destination address of the electronic mail. The subject field of electronic mail is not specified. A character string specified by the information distribution server 101 can also be described. In this case, a character string to be described in the subject field is specified in the metadata acquired by the metadata acquisition unit 205. This facilitates the electronic mail classification process in the information distribution server 101.

Alternatively, a keyword for electronic mail classification designated by the user can be described. The information distribution server 101 writes this keyword in the subject column when distributing the content. As a result, the electronic mail analysis unit 210 of the information receiving terminal 103 can perform classification according to its own use.

Next, the electronic mail transmission processing section 208 transmits the electronic mail created in step S403 to the information distribution server 101 (S404).

Next, the electronic mail editing unit 207 sends the content distribution request information notified to the information distribution server 101,
The distribution request destination address that requested the content distribution is stored in the content information management database 213 waiting for reception of the data storage unit 203 (S405). The stored content distribution request information is used for confirmation processing when receiving an electronic mail. In addition, the electronic mail editing unit 207 also discards the processed waiting-for-reception content information and the invalidated waiting-for-reception content information, and updates the reception-waiting content list. Here, the reception waiting content list is a list in which data in the content reception waiting state among the content distribution request information notified to the information distribution server 101 are summarized. Accordingly, the electronic mail analysis unit 210 can easily determine whether or not the electronic mail includes the content desired by the user.

As a result, the information receiving terminal 103, which is the content receiving terminal, holds the information on the content for which the content distribution request information has been issued as a content list waiting to be received, and includes the content desired by the user from the received electronic mail. It has become possible to extract electronic mail and present the extracted content to the user preferentially.

The above steps S401 to S4
Through a series of steps 05, the content distribution request information is notified from the information receiving terminal 103 to the information distribution server 101.

Next, content reception processing step S30
3 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The electronic mail reception processing section 209 reads only the header part of the received electronic mail. Then, the information in the subject field of the read header is passed to the electronic mail analysis unit 210 (S501). That is, at this stage, the text of the electronic mail has not been read by the data processing unit 202.

As described in the description of the electronic mail transmission processing procedure in FIG. 4, the content of the content distribution request information notified to the information distribution server 101 is stored in the data storage unit 203 as reception waiting content information. In the reception waiting content information, content identification information (subject of electronic mail including the content), a content distribution effective period, and a distribution request destination address are described.

The electronic mail analyzing section 210 determines in step S5
It is determined whether or not there is content waiting to be received that matches the subject of the received electronic mail acquired in 01 (S502). If there is matching reception-waiting content information, the electronic mail is sent to the information distribution server 101.
Since the content includes a content requested to be distributed to the user, the process proceeds to the next step S503.

Conversely, if there is no matching content information waiting to be received, the electronic mail is irrelevant to the content that issued the distribution request information, and the process proceeds to step S507 without doing anything. .

Next, the electronic mail reception processing section 209 reads the electronic mail in which it is confirmed that the subject of the electronic mail coincides with the content information waiting to be received in step S502, and converts the content attached to the electronic mail text into an electronic mail. It is passed to the mail analysis unit 210 (S503).

Next, the electronic mail analyzing section 210 sets the reception date and time of the read electronic mail to the condition regarding the content distribution validity period of the reception waiting content information stored in the reception waiting content information management database 213 of the data storage section 203. Is determined (S50).
4). If it is within the validity period, the process proceeds to step S505. If it is outside the validity period, the process proceeds to step S506. The “reception date and time” of the electronic mail is “the date and time when the electronic mail arrived after being spooled in the user's electronic mail box, that is, the date and time when the electronic mail could be viewed by the user”, or “the information receiving terminal”. 103 when the user attempts to view the electronic mail including the content.

Next, the display unit 211 decodes the content contained in the received electronic mail and displays the content. Further, the electronic mail analysis unit 210 stores the content in the content management database 214 of the data storage unit 203 as necessary (S505).

Next, the electronic mail analyzing unit 210 discards the electronic mail that is determined in step S504 to match the content identification information of the content information waiting to be received but does not satisfy the condition regarding the content distribution validity period (S506). ).

Here, the “reception date and time” of the aforementioned electronic mail
Is “the date and time when the user of the information receiving terminal 103 tried to browse the electronic mail including the content”, the electronic mail analysis unit 210 may automatically discard the content whose validity period has expired and whose value as information has been reduced. it can. For example, if a content with a short validity period such as "Today's weather forecast" or "Today's recommended TV program" is delivered, but the user has not viewed the content for several days, the e-mail The analyzer 210 discards the expired content without the user's knowledge. Note that the priority of the display order of the electronic mail can be lowered without destroying the electronic mail.

Next, the control section 212 returns to step S501 when there is a remaining received mail, and repeats steps S501 to S506. When the received mail is exhausted, the content receiving process ends.

The above steps S501 to S5
Through a series of processes of 07, display and accumulation processes of the content attached to the received electronic mail are executed.

The information receiving terminal 103 can be any terminal such as a personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a mobile phone as long as it can receive and display contents.

Although the present embodiment has been described using the Internet, a wide area network (WAN) or a local area network (LA) is used.
N), any network such as a wireless network or a network in which they are combined is possible. In addition, the present invention can be similarly applied to an intranet.

In the information distribution system according to the present embodiment, information distribution server 101 publishes a web page on which a content list including content metadata is published, and information receiving terminal 103 transmits content by HTTP or FTP. To get the metadata.
The metadata describes information for the user to grasp the outline of the content and information necessary for receiving the distribution of the content. If the information receiving terminal 103 acquires these pieces of information by another method, step S
Reference numeral 401 denotes an unnecessary step. Further, various kinds of information relating to the content distribution request information may be held in advance, and the content distribution request information may be automatically generated.

Further, a condition that the address of the transmission source of the electronic mail coincides can be further added to the selection condition of the electronic mail with reference to the contents list waiting to be received. As a result, the electronic mail including the content desired by the user can be presented to the user with higher priority.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the content distribution validity period included in the content distribution request information is the date and time when distribution of content starts to be accepted and the date and time when distribution is to be terminated. It can also be only.

Further, the date and time transmitted by the information distribution server may be used instead of the date and time of acceptance. in this case,
Even if the user does not browse the electronic mail during the valid period, the user can view the content that the user needs later without being discarded.

Further, in the present embodiment, the reception date and time of the received electronic mail is within the valid range of the content distribution period. However, this may be outside the valid period of the content distribution period. I can do it.

In this case, electronic mails containing contents desired by the user but whose distribution effective period has passed and the information has become old will be extracted, and these will be automatically deleted or deleted. Or lower the priority at the time of presentation.

In particular, when the user desires to distribute paid content, by specifying the validity period of the distribution, the user does not continue to subscribe to unnecessary content as information. This has the effect.

Next, the configuration and function of the information distribution server will be described.

FIG. 6 shows the information distribution server 10 in FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment.

Information distribution server 101 of the first embodiment
Is a system including a server workstation, a server PC, a large-capacity storage device, and various peripheral devices such as a network card.

The data transmission / reception processing unit 602 performs storage / management of information contents, reception of contents distribution request information, and contents distribution processing. It is composed of the units described below.

The data storage unit 603 is a nonvolatile storage device for storing contents, and the data transmission / reception processing unit 6
02 can be freely accessed. Further, the data storage unit 603 constructs a plurality of databases for storing contents and various data.

The communication section 604 communicates with the information receiving terminal 103 and the information providing terminal 102 via a network. 6, the communication unit 604 is located outside the data transmission / reception processing unit 602. That is, the communication unit 604
Is a general-purpose communication unit (network interface) as a hardware resource of the information distribution server 101. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which some functions of the communication unit 604 are incorporated in the data transmission / reception processing unit 602.

The components of the data transmission / reception processing unit 602 and their functions will be described below.

The distribution request registration processing unit 605 receives the content distribution request information notification from the information receiving terminal 103,
The content distribution request information is registered. The content registration processing unit 606 performs processing for storing the content received from the information providing terminal 102 and updating the management list of the stored content.

[0145] The content list presentation processing section 607 presents a list of stored contents to the information receiving terminal 103. In the present embodiment, the information distribution server 101 also functions as a website that publishes an HTML document generated from a content list by using the content list presentation processing unit 607. However, when presenting information on the content to the user by another means such as facsimile, the content list presentation processing unit 607 is not essential.

[0146] Content distribution processing section 608 distributes the content according to the content distribution request information received from information receiving terminal 103. Content distribution processing unit 60
Reference numeral 8 includes means for shaping and processing the content and means for performing compression, encryption, and addition of an electronic signature, as necessary.

The control unit 610 includes the data transmission / reception processing unit 60
2 to control the communication requesting unit 605 to the content distribution processing unit 608 and the communication unit 604 to execute data transmission / reception processing.

Next, the components of the data storage unit 603 and their functions will be described.

The distribution request information management database 611 is
The content distribution request information transmitted from the information receiving terminal 103 is stored in the form of a content distribution list.
One piece of content distribution request information includes at least one of an information receiving terminal address, a content type to be distributed, a content data format, a data amount limit value, a content distribution validity period, content identification information, charging method information, an allowable payment amount, and the like. It is composed of one.

[0150] The content management database 612 stores the content received from the information providing terminal 102.

Content list management database 613
Manages a content list stored in the content management database 612.

In the present embodiment, one content is
Since the data is variable-length data composed of at least one file, the content management database 612 for managing the content and the content list management database 613 for managing the list of the content are made independent. However, they can be collectively managed in one database.

Content list management database 613
The one piece of content information managed by, includes a content type, a content data format, a content data amount, a content file name, an absolute address of a content storage destination, and the like. It can also include a period that is valuable as information and a valid period of the content that means freshness.

When one content is composed of a plurality of sub-contents, the content information includes information for constructing the content from the plurality of sub-contents. When the content has scalability, that is, when content having different contents and data amounts can be generated from one content, the content information includes information related to scalability, and the information distribution server 101 performs content conversion processing. It has transcoding processing means.

The information distribution server 101 is the information providing terminal 1
02 is stored in the data storage unit 603, and the management list of the stored content is updated. Hereinafter, this is referred to as content registration processing. At the same time, the information distribution server 101 receives the content distribution request information from the information receiving terminal 103 and registers the content distribution request information. Hereinafter, this is referred to as distribution request information registration processing. The information distribution server 101 always checks the current time,
The content is distributed according to the content distribution request information received from the information receiving terminal 103. Hereinafter, this is referred to as content distribution processing. These processes are performed in parallel.

The content registration processing, distribution request information registration processing, and content distribution processing will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a content registration processing procedure of the information distribution server 101.

[0158] Control unit 610 checks whether or not communication unit 604 has received content from information providing terminal 102. If the content has been received, the process proceeds to the next step. If the content has not been received, the process enters a standby loop (S701).

The contents registration processing unit 606
Only the metadata describing the outline of the content received by the server 04 is read (S702).

Next, the content registration processing unit 606 analyzes the read metadata, and determines whether or not the data capacity of the content, the character code, the format such as the image encoding method, etc. conform to the specified conditions. I do.
If it is determined that the content is appropriate, the process proceeds to the next step. If the content is determined to be non-conforming, the content and its metadata are discarded, and the process proceeds to step S706 (S706).
703).

Next, the content registration processing unit 606 stores the content determined to be suitable in step S703 in the content management database 612 (S70).
4). Further, the content registration processing unit 606 determines in step S
The content list management database 613 is updated according to the metadata of the content stored in 704 (S
705).

Next, control unit 610 determines whether or not the content has been registered in information providing terminal 1 which is the source of the content.
02 (S706). Next, control unit 610 determines whether or not to end the content registration process (S70).
7). Normally, the process returns to step S701 without ending. The end of the process corresponds to a case where the power of the information distribution server 101 is turned off or a case where the information transmission / reception program is ended.

[0163] Through a series of processing from step S701 to step S707, the registration processing of the content transmitted from the information providing terminal 102 is executed.

Also, when the information providing terminal 102 is a content providing server, the information distribution server 101
The content provided from the content providing server is delivered to the information receiving terminal 103. Therefore, the information distribution server functions as an intermediary between the content providing server and the information receiving terminal, and can perform efficient content distribution according to the demands of both.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the distribution request information registration processing procedure of the information distribution server 101.

Control unit 610 checks whether or not communication unit 604 has received content distribution request information from information receiving terminal 103. If the content distribution request information has been received, the process proceeds to the next step. If the content distribution request information has not been received, the process enters a standby loop (S80).
1).

The distribution request registration processing section 605 reads the received content distribution request information (S802). Next, the distribution request registration processing unit 605 analyzes the received content distribution request information and determines whether or not information such as a content type, a content format, a data size limit value, and a content distribution validity period is appropriate. Do. If the content distribution request information matches, the process proceeds to the next step; otherwise, the distribution request information is discarded and the process proceeds to step S805 (S803).

Further, the distribution request registration processing unit 605 stores the content distribution request information determined to be suitable in step S803 in the distribution request information management database 611 (S804). Next, the control unit 610 notifies the information receiving terminal 103 that is the transmission source of the distribution request information whether the distribution request information has been registered (S805).

Control unit 610 determines whether or not to end the distribution request information registration process (S806). Normally, the process returns to step S801 without ending. To end the process,
This corresponds to turning off the power of the information distribution server 101 or terminating the information transmission / reception program.

[0170] Through a series of processing from step S801 to step S806, registration processing of content distribution request information in information distribution server 101 is executed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a content distribution processing procedure of the information distribution server 101.

The control unit 610 checks the content distribution time table in which the time (date and time) for executing the content distribution is described, and confirms whether or not the current time is the time of the content distribution. If it is the content distribution time, the process proceeds to the next step. If the content distribution time is not reached, the process enters a standby loop (S90).
1).

The content distribution processing unit 608 sequentially retrieves the content distribution request information one by one from the distribution request information management database 611 (S902), and step 9
The processing from 02 to step 912 shown below is performed.
The content distribution request information includes an address of the information receiving terminal, a type of content to be distributed, a data format of the content, a data amount limit value, a content distribution validity period, content identification information, charging method information, and the like.

The contents distribution processing unit 608 compares the distribution validity period described in the contents distribution request information with the current date and time, and if the current date and time falls within the contents distribution validity period, the process proceeds to step S906. . If the current date and time is outside the content distribution validity period, the flow shifts to step S904 without performing content distribution (S903).

Next, the content distribution processing section 608 compares the distribution validity period with the current date and time, and if the current date and time is later than the distribution validity period, the process proceeds to step S905, where the current date and time is the distribution validity If it is before the period, the process moves to step S912 (S904).

Next, in step S904, the content distribution processing unit 608 distributes the content distribution request information for which it is determined that the current date and time is after the distribution validity period, that is, the content distribution request information that does not need to be distributed to the user. Delete from the request information management database 611 (S90
5). As described above, since the distribution data whose distribution expiration date has passed is appropriately deleted from the content distribution list, it is possible to prevent the user from erroneously distributing the content not desired by the user. Further, at this time, when an e-mail for confirming the extension of the period of the content distribution request information is transmitted to the information receiving terminal 103 and a response to the extension of the period is received from the user, the process of continuing the content distribution can be performed.

Next, the content distribution processing unit 608 searches the content list management database 613 for content that matches the content distribution request information selected in step S902, and retains the search result (step S902).
906). At this time, a plurality of contents that match the content distribution request information may be searched.

Next, the content distribution processing unit 608 checks the result of step S 906, and moves to the next step when a content that matches the content distribution request information is found. S
The process moves to 912 (S907).

Next, the content distribution processing unit 608 searches the content management database 612 and proceeds to step S
At 906, the content retrieved from the content list is read (S908).

Next, the content distribution processing unit 608 creates an electronic mail document to which the content read in step S908 is attached (S909). In creating the electronic mail, the electronic mail is created in accordance with the content data format and the data amount limit value of the content distribution request information. For example, when it is specified that only text data can be browsed, the content distribution processing unit attaches only text data extracted from the content to the electronic mail. If it is specified that only voice data can be received, it is also possible to extract only voice data from the content or attach a text data portion converted to voice data by a voice synthesis function. If the data amount limit value is specified to be small, only the text data is extracted and the summarized text data prepared in advance as a part of the content is attached. Also, for data such as still images, data obtained by performing resolution conversion and reducing image data is attached. The destination of the electronic mail is the address of the information receiving terminal described in the content distribution request information corresponding to the content.

In the subject field of the electronic mail,
At least one of the content type, which is one of the content identification information and the content attribute information described in the content distribution request information corresponding to the content, is described (S909). This allows the information receiving terminal to classify the received content by the character string specified by the user or the content type specified by the content distributor.

Furthermore, if the accounting method information of the content distribution request information selected in step S902 indicates a type that allows the attachment of an advertisement to reduce the content distribution cost, the advertisement content is also attached to the electronic mail. I do.

Next, the content distribution processing unit 608 transmits the electronic mail created in step S909 to the information receiving terminal 1.
03 (S910).

Next, the content distribution processing unit 608 confirms whether or not all the contents retrieved in step S906 have been distributed (S911). That is, if there are a plurality of contents that match the content distribution request information and distribution of all the contents has not been completed, the process returns to step S908 to distribute the next content. When the distribution of all the contents is completed, the process proceeds to the next step.

In the present embodiment, one content is attached to one electronic mail. However, a plurality of contents can be attached to one electronic mail.

Next, the content distribution processing section 608 checks whether or not the content distribution request information for which the above-described content distribution processing has not been performed remains in the distribution request information management database 611 (S912). If there is content distribution request information for which content distribution processing has not been performed, the process returns to step S902. If there is no content distribution request information for which content distribution processing has not been performed, the process proceeds to the next step.

Next, control unit 610 determines whether or not to end the content distribution processing (S913). Normally, the process returns to step S901 without ending. Terminating the content distribution processing corresponds to a case where the power of the information distribution server 101 is turned off or a case where the information transmission / reception program is terminated.

The above steps S901 to S9
The content distribution process in the information distribution server 101 is performed by a series of processes of 13.

In this embodiment, the information distribution server 101
Publishes the content that can be provided to the user by the content list presentation processing unit 607, and transmits the content desired by the user under distribution conditions specified by the user. As a result, it has become possible to execute efficient content distribution without giving any discomfort to the user.

When the list of contents that can be provided by the information distribution server 101 is not provided as a website but is provided in a printed matter or the like, the content list presentation processing unit 607 becomes unnecessary.

In the case where the information distribution server 101 accumulates contents offline, the information providing terminal 102 connected to the network 104 becomes unnecessary.

In this embodiment, the information receiving terminal 1
Although the electronic mail is used for the distribution of the contents to the Internet 03, the contents identification information is included in a part of the header information in the transmission of the contents using the Internet facsimile or the FTP, and the contents identification information is transmitted to the contents. The present invention can be similarly applied by adding a file to the data and making the content identification information a separate file and transmitting it as a set with the content file.

As described above, when the information receiving terminal 103 executes the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 to 5 and the information distribution server 101 executes the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. The information distribution server 101 transmits an electronic mail including the content specified by the user only for a predetermined period specified by the user, and adding the content identification information specified by the user to the subject column of the electronic mail. Then, the information receiving terminal 103 classifies the e-mail using the content distribution validity period and the content identification information.
Important content can be viewed preferentially. Further, the information receiving terminal 103 can automatically delete the expired content as information even if the content has been received.

As a result, the user of the information receiving terminal 103 can preferentially browse the received data including important contents without overlooking the received data, even in a situation where a huge amount of received data is received. An advantageous effect is obtained. At the same time, the information receiving terminal 103 has an advantageous effect of being able to automatically delete received data including expired content that has no value as information. Further, the content distribution provider can also provide an efficient service of not providing useless content by transmitting content that meets the user's request only during a period required by the user.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram of an information distribution server 101 according to the embodiment. FIG. The first embodiment refers to a content receiving program module 1014 which is a software program for realizing the function of the data processing unit 202 shown in the first embodiment, and a process of transmitting the module 1014 to the information receiving terminal 103. The difference is that a module transmission processing unit 1009 is provided.

The module transmission processing unit 1009 is a program distribution unit that distributes a content reception program module in response to a request from any terminal.

The control unit 610 includes the data transmission / reception processing unit 60
2 from the distribution request registration processing unit 605 to the content distribution processing unit 608,
9, and controls the communication unit 604 to execute data transmission / reception processing.

Content receiving program module 10
Reference numeral 14 denotes a software program module described in the Java language, and an arbitrary terminal having a Java execution environment operates as a content receiving program module 101.
4 can function as the information receiving terminal 103.

As a result, a content distribution service can be provided to an unspecified number of arbitrary users.

[0200] The content receiving program module 1014 is not limited to a program module described in Java language, but may be a program module described in another program language supported by many platforms.

The control unit 610 monitors whether the communication unit 604 has received a request from the information receiving terminal 103 to provide electronic mail transmission / reception software. Upon receiving the request, the module transmission processing unit 1009 extracts the content receiving program module 1014 from the data storage unit 603, and transmits the module 1014 to the information receiving terminal 103 that has made the request. The module transmission process, the content registration process, the distribution request information registration process, and the content distribution process are performed in parallel.

Here, the content receiving program module 1014 can be installed in the information receiving terminal 103 off-line, instead of being downloaded from the information distribution server 101 to the information receiving terminal 103, and can be installed in the information receiving terminal from the beginning. . In that case, the module transmission processing unit 1009 and the content reception program module 1014 are not essential.

Next, FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration in which a personal computer is used as the information receiving terminal 103 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The CPU 1101 controls hardware of the personal computer in accordance with a program read from the software storage unit 1104, which is a hard disk device, in the RAM 1103. The ROM 1102 stores initial data for loading software from the software storage unit 1104 to the RAM 1103 first when the power is turned on.
A program loader (IPL) has been written.

An input unit 1105 is a keyboard, through which instructions from the user are input to the personal computer, and a display corresponding thereto is output from the output unit 1106. The communication unit 204 is the network 1 shown in FIG.
04 and two-way communication.

[0206] Via the communication unit 204, the content receiving program module 1014 is connected to the information distribution server 10
1 is downloaded to the RAM 1103. After the downloaded content is stored in the software storage unit 1104, it is executed according to a user's instruction. Further, the content receiving program module 614 is automatically activated by the next activation of the personal computer.

By executing the content receiving program module 1014, the same functions as those of the data processing unit 202 shown in the first embodiment can be realized on a personal computer.

In the present embodiment, a personal computer is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If a content reception and a content display are possible, a portable information terminal (PD) may be used.
A) or any terminal such as a terminal such as a mobile phone can be used.

If the information receiving terminal 103 is a general-purpose terminal such as a mobile phone and the data processing unit 202 is not a general-purpose electronic mail transmitting / receiving program, all the electronic mails received by the information receiving terminal 103 are read. Instead, it is preferable to read only the electronic mail including the content for which the distribution request has been issued. When there is such a request, the electronic mail reception processing unit 209 reads only the electronic mail in which the content identification information specified in the subject column is described.

In the system including the content distribution server and the content receiving terminal as described above, the content distribution server provides the content receiving terminal with the content receiving program, and then transmits the content desired by the user to the content receiving terminal. It is possible to distribute.
Therefore, a general personal computer can be used as the client terminal, and a content distribution system that efficiently distributes advertisement content to an unspecified number of users can be easily constructed.

[0211]

As described above, according to the present invention, the information distribution server 101 includes the content specified by the user only for a certain period specified by the user, and more preferably displays the user's content in the subject field of the electronic mail. Transmits an electronic mail with the specified content identification information added thereto, and the information receiving terminal 103 classifies the electronic mail using the content distribution validity period and the content identification information. Even in a situation where a large amount of electronic mail is received, an advantageous effect is obtained in that the electronic mail including important contents can be browsed preferentially without overlooking. At the same time, an advantageous effect is obtained in that the information receiving terminal 103 can automatically delete an electronic mail including expired content that has no value as information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an information receiving terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a processing procedure of the information receiving terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a distribution request information transmission processing procedure of the information receiving terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a content receiving processing procedure of the information receiving terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an information distribution server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a content registration processing procedure of the information distribution server according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a distribution request information registration processing procedure of the information distribution server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a content distribution processing procedure of the information distribution server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an information distribution server according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an information receiving terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of items described in distribution request information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 Information distribution server 102 Information providing terminal 103 Information receiving terminal 104 Network 202 Data processing unit 203 Data storage unit 204 Communication unit 205 Metadata acquisition unit 206 Distribution request creation unit 207 Electronic mail editing unit 208 Electronic mail transmission processing unit 209 Electronic mail reception Processing unit 210 Electronic mail analysis unit 211 Display unit 212 Control unit 213 Content information management database waiting for reception 214 Content management database 602 Data transmission / reception processing unit 603 Data storage unit 604 Communication unit 605 Distribution request registration processing unit 606 Content registration processing unit 607 Content list Presentation processing unit 608 Content distribution processing unit 610 Control unit 611 Distribution request information management database 612 Content management database 613 Content list management data Database 1009 module transmission processing unit 1014 content reception program module 1101 CPU 1102 ROM 1103 RAM 1104 software storage unit 1105 input unit 1106 output unit

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. A distribution list update for registering, in a content distribution list, content distribution request information including a content distribution validity period indicating a period during which content distribution from a user is permitted, and a distribution destination address indicating a content distribution destination address. A distribution information extracting step of extracting the content distribution request information within a content distribution validity period from the content distribution list, and a content transmitting step of distributing the content based on the extracted content distribution request information. Content transmission method having. 2. Content distribution request information including a content distribution validity period indicating a period during which content distribution from a user is permitted, a distribution destination address indicating a content distribution destination address, and content attribute information indicating a content attribute. A distribution list updating step of registering the content distribution list in a content distribution list, a distribution information extracting step of extracting the content distribution request information within a content distribution validity period from the content distribution list, and the content of the extracted content distribution request information A content selecting step of selecting a content that matches the attribute information from a content management database in which the content is stored, and a content transmitting step of distributing the selected content based on the extracted content distribution request information Transmission method. 3. A content distribution validity period indicating a period during which content distribution from a user is permitted, a distribution destination address indicating a content distribution destination address, content attribute information indicating a content attribute, and an arbitrary character string. A distribution list updating step of registering content distribution request information including content identification information in a content distribution list, a distribution information extracting step of extracting the content distribution request information within a valid period of content distribution, and the extracted content A content selection step of selecting a content that matches the content attribute information of the distribution request information from a content management database in which the content is stored, and a transmission data generation step of creating transmission data in which the content identification information is added to the content; The transmission data Transmitting the data based on the extracted content distribution request information. 4. The content attribute information includes at least one of a content type indicating a category or a genre of the content, a data format of the content, a limit value of a data amount of the content, and charging method information. 3. The content transmission method according to 3. 5. The content transmission method according to claim 3, wherein in the transmission data generating step, the content is a text of an electronic mail, and the content identification information is created in an electronic mail to be added to a subject field. 6. The content transmission method according to claim 4, wherein the transmission data generating step attaches an advertisement content to the content according to the accounting method information included in the content attribute information. 7. The content transmission method according to claim 1, wherein the distribution information extracting step deletes the content distribution request information whose distribution effective period has passed from the content distribution list. 8. A content waiting to be received, which is composed of a content delivery validity period indicating a content delivery validity period registered in advance as a content delivery request destination and a delivery request destination address which is an address of the content delivery request destination. A content receiving method, comprising: a receiving queue list updating step for registering in a list; and a content selecting step for extracting only received data matching predetermined content selecting conditions registered in the receiving queue content list. 9. A distribution request for transmitting, to a content distribution request destination, content distribution request information including the content distribution validity period, a distribution destination address indicating a content distribution destination address, and content attribute information indicating a content attribute. 9. The content receiving method according to claim 8, further comprising a transmitting step. 10. The distribution request transmitting step transmits content distribution request information further including content identification information consisting of an arbitrary character string to be added to the distribution content, and the reception waiting list updating step further includes a step of updating the content identification information. The content reception method according to claim 9, wherein the reception-waiting content information including the information is registered in a reception-waiting content list. 11. The reception data, wherein the content is an electronic mail text and the content identification information is an electronic mail added to a subject field.
Content receiving method described in 1. 12. The content selection condition is that the source of the received e-mail matches the distribution request destination address, and the character string described in the subject field of the received e-mail matches the content identification information. 12. The content receiving method according to claim 11, wherein the reception date and time of the received electronic mail is one of within and outside of the content distribution validity period. 13. The content selection condition is such that the source of the received e-mail matches the distribution request destination address, and the character string described in the subject field of the received e-mail matches the content identification information. 12. The content receiving method according to claim 11, wherein the transmission date and time of the received electronic mail is one of within and outside of the content distribution validity period. 14. A program for causing a computer to execute the content transmission method according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 15. A program for causing a computer to execute the content receiving method according to any one of claims 8 to 10. 16. The electronic mail browsing process, the electronic mail transmission / reception process, and a computer.
0. A program for executing the content receiving method according to any one of 0. 17. The computer according to claim 1, further comprising:
A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for executing the content transmission method according to any one of the above. 18. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the content receiving method according to claim 8 is recorded. 19. A computer-readable program storing a program for causing a computer to execute an electronic mail browsing process, an electronic mail transmission / reception process, and the content receiving method according to any one of claims 8 to 10. Recording medium. 20. A distribution request registration processing unit for registering, in a content distribution list, content distribution request information including a content distribution validity period indicating a period during which content distribution is permitted and a distribution destination address indicating a content distribution destination address. A content distribution processing unit that extracts the content distribution request information within the content distribution validity period from the content distribution list and transmits content based on the extracted content distribution request information. 21. The content delivery device according to claim 20, further comprising a program delivery unit that delivers a program for executing the content reception method according to any one of claims 8 to 10 to an arbitrary terminal. server. 22. A content registration processing unit that receives a content distribution request from an arbitrary content providing server that provides content, and collects content and content attribute information indicating attribute information of the content from the content providing server. The content distribution server according to claim 20. 23. A distribution request creation unit that creates content distribution request information including a content distribution validity period indicating a period in which content distribution designated by a user is permitted, and a distribution destination address indicating a content distribution destination address. An editing unit that registers reception-waiting content information including a content distribution validity period and a distribution request destination address that is an address of a content distribution request destination in a reception waiting content list; a reception processing unit that receives reception data including content; A content receiving terminal comprising: an analyzing unit that extracts only received data that meets predetermined content selection conditions registered in a content list waiting to be received. 24. A content distribution system comprising: the content distribution server according to claim 20; the content receiving terminal according to claim 23; and a content providing server that provides content.