JP2002229880A - Information distributing system, information distributing device and information terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system allowing a user accessing to a site by use of a PC to transfer contents of the site to one's portable information terminal by a simple operation. SOLUTION: The site providing spot information provides a mobile link button embedded with a function sending spot information and a process start request to a server of a predetermined address by one click on a browser operating on the terminal of the user. When the user clicks the mobile link button displayed on a display screen of the browser once, the server acquires the spot information, it also acquires cookie information from the browser for user authentication, and it records the spot information in association with identification information of the user in a data base. The user sends the identification information and a transfer request of the spot information from a car navigation device, receives the user authentication, acquires the spot information, and uses the spot information in a navigation application.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a system for a user of an information terminal used in a mobile environment such as a car navigation device or a portable computer to acquire contents of a site on the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rapid expansion of the use of the Internet, terminals for using the Internet have been used in mobile environments such as PCs (personal computers) used in homes and offices, as well as car navigation devices and portable computers. What is used (terminals used in a mobile environment in this way are simply referred to as "portable information terminals"
) Have been expanded. Such a portable information terminal can connect wireless communication means having a data communication function such as a mobile phone and a PHS, and connect to the Internet using these wireless communication means.
It allows access to the contents of sites on the Internet.

[0003]

Accessing the Internet from a portable information terminal is different from accessing from the home or office using a PC browser (information browsing software). The following inconveniences may occur due to the nature and special circumstances of access in a mobile environment. For one thing, these portable information terminals are naturally limited in size and performance for the purpose of being mounted on a car or being used in a portable manner. Therefore, when browsing site information using these portable information terminals, it takes more time and effort to browse the site information than when using a PC at home or office. .
In general, when users browse the Internet in a mobile environment, they often do not have enough time to access the site. Make it more inconvenient.

[0004] Further, considering the situation of access from a mobile environment, access to the Internet is an ISP.
(Internet service provider), it is necessary to go through an access point, so if you move to a position away from the access point set in the portable information terminal, the usage fee of the telephone network increases. Will be. In order to avoid this, the user of the portable information terminal must perform a work of changing the setting regarding the access point of the portable information terminal in order to access from a closer access point.

[0005] Due to the inconvenience of accessing a site with a portable information terminal as described above, when a user of a portable information terminal tries to comfortably browse a sufficient amount of contents in a mobile environment, Once at home or office PC
Therefore, it is necessary to access a desired site by using, and download a desired content to a storage medium such as a flash memory card which can be attached to a portable information terminal.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a system, an information distribution device, and an information terminal device that enable a user who has accessed a site using a PC to transfer the contents of the site to his / her portable information terminal with a simple operation. Is to provide.

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 comprises an information terminal, a site for providing contents, and a server located at a predetermined network address, which can be connected to each other via a network. The information terminal is an information distribution system that enables the content information of the site to be obtained from the server, wherein (a) the site is a terminal that accesses the site,
A function providing unit that provides a function of transmitting a processing start request and the content information to the server,
(b) the server is a processing request receiving means for receiving the processing start request and the content information, and an identification information acquisition for obtaining identification information relating to the terminal accessing the site when the processing request receiving means receives the processing start request. Means, a database recording means for recording the received content information in association with the identification information in a database, receiving a transfer request and the identification information, searching the database based on the received identification information, and retrieving the content information associated with the identification information. Information providing means to provide,
(c) an information terminal, which accesses the server, sends identification information and a transfer request to the information providing means, and obtains, from the information providing means, content information associated with the identification information sent from the information terminal; Having. A user of an information terminal accesses a desired site from a terminal that can access the Internet other than the information terminal, for example, a home PC, and processes the PC from the site to a predetermined server. It is possible to receive the function of transmitting the request and the content information of the site. Therefore, the user can transmit the content information of the site to a predetermined server in advance by accessing the desired site with the PC, and when the information terminal is used later, the user can access the site from the information terminal. It is possible to download and use the content information that has been sent to a predetermined server in advance by the information acquisition means of the information terminal without accessing the content.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information terminal which can be connected to each other via a network, a site for providing contents, and a server located at a predetermined network address. (A) the site transmits a processing start request and content information to the server operating on a terminal accessing the site to the server. (B) the server receives a process start request from the browser, operates in cooperation with the browser, and obtains identification information from the browser, Database recording that records the content information sent with the processing start request in the database in association with the identification information And information providing means for receiving the transfer request and the identification information, searching the database based on the received identification information, and providing the content information associated with the identification information, while (c) the information terminal comprises a server And information transmission means for transmitting the identification information and the transfer request to the information providing means, and acquiring the content information associated with the identification information transmitted from the information terminal from the information providing means. The user of the information terminal accesses a desired site using a browser of a terminal that can access the Internet other than the information terminal, for example, a home PC, and thereby displays the site on the display screen of the browser. A reception button displayed together with the content, which is provided with a reception button having a function of transmitting a processing request to a predetermined server and content information of the site, is provided (that is, the reception button is displayed on a home page of the site. ). Therefore, if a user accesses a desired site from a browser running on a PC, the user can send out the content information of the site to a predetermined server in advance, and can use the information terminal later. In addition, content information sent to a predetermined server in advance by the information acquisition unit of the information terminal can be downloaded and used without accessing the site from the information terminal.

In this case, the identification information obtaining means of the server, when the identification information cannot be obtained from the browser, displays on the display screen of the browser a prompt for inputting the identification information and obtains the identification information. With the configuration having (1), the identification information input by the user operating the browser can be obtained even if the identification information cannot be obtained from the browser (claim 3). If the browser does not have the identification information, or a new user of the information distribution system can input the identification information.

The server further includes first authentication means for performing user authentication based on the identification information obtained by the identification information obtaining means and the identification information registered in the server in advance. It is preferable that the content information is recorded in the database only when the terminal accessing the site is authenticated by the first authentication means (claim 4). With this configuration,
It is also possible to restrict the use of the present information distribution system from the terminal browser to terminals and users having identification information registered in the server in advance.

The information providing means of the server, when receiving a transfer request from the information obtaining means of the information terminal, performs user authentication based on the identification information sent from the information obtaining means and the identification information stored in the server in advance. It is preferable that the information processing apparatus has a configuration in which the content information is provided only when the information terminal is authenticated by the second authentication means (claim 5). With this configuration, download of content information by the information terminal can be restricted to information terminals and users having identification information registered in advance in the server.

Preferably, the identification information includes a user ID and a password. Preferably, the identification information further includes a name and an e-mail address of the user (claim 7).

[0013] Preferably, the reception button provided by the reception function providing means to the browser of the user's terminal is designated by the pointer of the terminal accessing the site, and is clicked one time, so that a request to start processing is sent to the server together with the processing start request. The content information is transmitted (claim 8). As a result, the content information is transferred to the server with only one click of the mouse on the reception button displayed together with the content of the site on the browser.

[0014] It is preferable that the information terminal further has a first storage means for storing the contents of the content information acquired by the information acquisition means (claim 9). Preferably, the information terminal further includes a first display control means for displaying the content information acquired by the information acquisition means on a display screen of the information terminal (claim 10).

[0015] The content information is, for example, spot information on spots such as leisure facilities and restaurants. Here, the spot information preferably includes at least position information indicating the position of the spot, so that the user of the information terminal can check the position of the spot (claim 12).

It is preferable that the spot information further includes at least one of a spot name of the spot, business hours, regular holidays, a telephone number, and a classification code indicating a type of the spot.

In this case, it is preferable that the information terminal further includes a second storage means for storing the acquired spot information (claim 14). Further, the information terminal performs a second control for displaying the spot information stored in the second storage means on a display screen of the information terminal.
It is preferable that the display device further includes a display control means.

If the information terminal further has map data, the second display control means combines the map data with the spot information so that, for example, the position of the spot can be known on the map. It is possible to control the display on the display screen of the information terminal (claim 16).

The second display control means may store the spot information in the second storage means based on at least one of position information, business hours, regular holidays, telephone numbers and classification codes. It is preferable to have a configuration having a search means for performing the search for (1). This allows the user of the information terminal to search for and display a plurality of downloaded spot information based on, for example, the spot name representing the name of the restaurant.

Preferably, the information terminal further includes a route calculating means for calculating a route based on the position information of the spot information stored in the second storage means (claim 18). That is, the information terminal is
Any one of the downloaded spots can be used as a destination to know the route to the destination.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information distribution system comprising an information terminal connectable to each other via a network, and a server located at a predetermined network address. A database in which the information and the spot information are associated with each other, and an information providing unit that receives the transfer request and the identification information, searches the database based on the received identification information, and provides the spot information associated with the identification information, (b)
The information terminal has information acquisition means for accessing the server, sending identification information and a transfer request to the information providing means, and acquiring spot information associated with the identification information sent from the information providing means for the information terminal. . The user of the information terminal can download and use the spot information that requires time and effort from a predetermined server by the information acquisition means of the information terminal without himself collecting the spot information on the Internet or the like.

In this case, the information providing means of the server, based on the identification information sent from the information acquiring means and the identification information registered in advance by the server, when there is a transfer request from the information acquiring means of the information terminal. It is preferable that the spot information is provided only when the information terminal side is authenticated by the third authentication means (claim 20). With this configuration, download of spot information by the information terminal can be restricted to information terminals and users having identification information registered in the server in advance.

Preferably, the identification information includes a user ID and a password (claim 21).

The spot information preferably includes at least position information indicating the position of the spot, so that the user of the information terminal can confirm the position of the spot (claim 22).

Here, it is preferable that the spot information further includes at least one of a spot name of the spot, business hours, regular holidays, a telephone number, and a classification code indicating a type of the spot (claim 23).

Further, it is preferable that the information terminal further has a third storage means for storing the acquired spot information (claim 24). Preferably, the information terminal further includes third display control means for controlling the display of the spot information stored in the third storage means on the display screen of the information terminal.
5).

If the information terminal has a configuration further including map data, the third display control means combines the map data with the spot information so that, for example, the position of the spot can be known on the map. It is possible to control the display on the display screen of the information terminal (claim 26).

Here, the third display control means stores the spot information in the third storage means based on at least one of the position information, business hours, regular holidays, telephone numbers and classification codes. It is preferable to have a search means for searching for spot information.
This allows the user of the information terminal to search for and display a plurality of downloaded spot information based on, for example, the spot name representing the name of the restaurant.

Preferably, the information terminal further includes a route calculating means for performing a route calculation based on the position information of the spot information stored in the third storage means. That is, the information terminal is
Any one of the downloaded spots can be used as a destination to know the route to the destination.

[0030] According to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, a detecting means connected via a network for detecting a processing start request from a terminal accessing a predetermined site, and an information receiving device for receiving content information possessed by the predetermined site Means, first identification information acquiring means for acquiring the identification information of the terminal which has sent the processing start request, and storage means for storing the content information received by the information receiving means in association with the acquired identification information. An information distribution apparatus characterized in that: The identification information sent from the terminal and the sent content information are associated with each other. Therefore, if the identification information on the terminal side is, for example, a user ID, the user of the terminal can store the content information in the information distribution device as his / her own personal information.

An information distribution apparatus according to claim 28, wherein an access detecting means for detecting an access from the information terminal and a second means for acquiring identification information of the accessed information terminal.
And an information providing means for providing, to the accessing information terminal, content information stored in the storage means in association with the identification information obtained by the second identification information obtaining means. The content information specified by the identification information can be provided to the accessing information terminal from the content information stored in the information distribution device.

Here, it is preferable that the information distribution apparatus further includes a data conversion means for converting the content information into data of a predetermined format. As a result, the content information can be converted into a format suitable for the accessing information terminal, for example, mobile web, PO
It can be converted to IX etc.

[0033] Preferably, the information providing means includes means for providing only difference information excluding the content information already transferred to the information terminal from the content information stored in the storage means (claims). Item 32). As a result, only new information can be provided to the information terminal.

The invention according to claim 33 is an information terminal device connected via a network and capable of accessing an information distribution device in which content information is stored in association with each piece of identification information, Identification information transmitting means for transmitting identification information for identifying the information terminal device side when accessing the information terminal, and information receiving means for receiving content information transmitted from the information distribution apparatus in accordance with the transmitted identification information. It is characterized by having. This information terminal device can receive information specified by identification information transmitted from the information terminal device side, out of content information stored in the information distribution device.

In the case where the received content information includes location information relating to the site from which the content information is provided, the information terminal device combines the map data with the map data and the received location information to obtain the information. It is preferable to include a display control means for displaying on a display screen of the terminal device. As a result, a map can be displayed on the display screen, and the position of the site can be displayed on the map.

Further, if the apparatus further includes a route calculating means for performing a route calculation based on the received position information, it is possible to know the route to the provider of the received content information.

[0037]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1 showing the configuration of the entire information distribution system of the present invention, a mode of use of an information distribution system 100 of the present invention will be described. In FIG. 1, a car navigation device 70 (or a portable computer 90)
And the user A, who is the owner of both the PCs 10 installed in the home of the user A, considers one of the destinations, such as a restaurant C, to be headed by a car equipped with the car navigation device 70. Is accessing a site operated by. On a browser (information viewing software) of the PC 10, a restaurant (hereinafter referred to as restaurant C)
) Is displayed on the display screen 30 of the site. The display screen 30 has a button 32 for accepting the start of execution of a process of transferring spot information about the restaurant C to the server 50 at a predetermined URL (Uniform Resource Locator) in addition to the content 31 that is information about the restaurant C. (Hereinafter, this button is referred to as a mobile link button 32 in the present specification).
The user A who wishes to use the spot information of the restaurant C with his / her own car navigation device 70 is called P.
The mobile link button 32 displayed on the browser of C10 is clicked using the pointer of the PC 10, for example, a mouse. User A has mobile link button 32
By clicking, the spot information of the restaurant C is transferred to the server 50 of the predetermined URL. The spot information to be transferred is, for example, restaurant C
Location data (latitude and longitude), spot names, business hours, regular holidays, telephone numbers, classification codes, and the like. In addition,
At this stage, the server 50 acquires identification information on the user A from the browser of the PC 10 and performs user authentication, as will be described later in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. Further, the user A accesses not only the spot information of the restaurant C but also other desired sites, clicks the mobile link button 32 provided on those sites, and transfers the spot information on other spots to the server 50. be able to.

On the other hand, when the user A gets on the car and the navigation device 70 is activated, the download software of the car navigation device 70 is transmitted to the server 50 via the mobile phone 71 connected to the car navigation device 70. The user then accesses and automatically downloads spot information and the like that has been transferred to the server 50 in advance using the identification information of the user A. That is, the user A accesses a desired site at home using the PC 10 and clicks the mobile link button 32 at the site, and simply accesses the server 50 from an information terminal device such as the car navigation device 70. Thus, spot information and the like relating to the site can be automatically downloaded. In the car navigation device 70, the downloaded spot information is transmitted to the car navigation device 7.
0 is used by the navigation application to display the location of the restaurant C on the map and to calculate the route with the restaurant C as the destination.

It should be noted that the car navigation device 70
It is composed of hardware components such as a PS receiver, map data, a CPU for executing a navigation application, a storage device such as a memory and a flash card, an interface for connecting to a mobile phone, and a user interface. In addition, the navigation application includes a route calculation function for estimating the position of the vehicle based on a positioning result obtained by the GPS receiver and a map matching function based on map data, and displaying a route to a destination set via the user interface. Have. Since these hardware components may be generally known, they are not particularly shown.

FIGS. 2 to 8 show that a user A accesses a site and clicks a mobile link button 32.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining details of a series of processing until spot information of the site is transferred to a server 50. The operation of each of the PC 10, the site, and the server 50 will be described in detail with reference to these drawings. In the description below, it is assumed that the user A accesses a site operated by the restaurant C.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of data transmission and reception between the user A (such as the user's PC 10), the site of the restaurant C, and the server 50. The user A uses the PC 10 at home to access the site of the restaurant C from which information is desired to be obtained, displays the content of the site on the browser of the PC 10, and displays the mobile link displayed on the display screen of the browser. The button 32 is clicked (FIG. 2A). Mobile link button 32
Includes programs on the server 50 side, for example, CGI (Co
The URL for starting the script (mmon Gateway Interface) is specified, and the spot information of the restaurant C is attached as a parameter, for example, coded in an HTML format. As generally known, CGI refers to a rule for starting a program on the web server side such as the server 50 in response to a request from a browser and exchanging data between the web server and the browser. The CGI script is a program activated by the web server.

Mobile link button 3 by user A
2 is clicked and a request for the URL specified by the mobile link button 32 is sent to the server 50,
In the server 50, a CGI script corresponding to the URL is started. When the CGI script starts, the user ID is sent from the server 50 to the browser of the PC 10.
And a password are requested (arrow 55 in FIG. 2B).
At this time, the user A receives the ID and password displayed on the browser screen of the PC 10 according to the input request.
And the password (arrow 11), the user A can be registered in the server 50. in this way,
By registering the user once in the server 50, when the user A accesses any site and clicks the mobile link button 32 of the site to transfer the spot information to the server 50 from the next time. In addition, it is not necessary to input a user ID and a password on a browser.

The server 50 further issues a request to the browser of the PC 10 to confirm whether or not to accept the click of the mobile link button 32 (arrow 56). In response, the user A performs an input on the browser of the PC 10 to approve the click on the confirmation request. When the approval of the click is obtained, the server 50 records the spot information simultaneously transmitted from the browser of the PC 10 as the URL parameter of the CGI script activation URL in the database 51 in association with the identification information of the user A. .

FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the details of the operation described above with reference to FIG.
When the mobile link button 32 is clicked (S
1) A request for a URL for starting a program (CGI script) is made from the browser of the PC 10 to the server 50 that logs in (S2). Specifically, the mobile link button 32 has a C
The URL for starting the GI script is embedded.
Program (CGI script) on server 50
Starts, the server 50 inquires of the browser of the PC 10 whether or not there is authentication information (ID and password) of the user A (S3). Step S3
Inquiry of authentication information in, for example, so-called cookie (cookie) for managing information between server and browser
By using the function, the server 50 can perform the inquiry by referring to the browser of the PC 10 for cookie information (authentication information).

When the user A has once accessed any of the sites and clicked the mobile link button 32 to transfer the spot information to the server 50, the server A transmitted the information from the server 50 to the browser of the PC 10. Since the cookie information is sent, if the browser stores the cookie information, the server 50 can obtain the cookie information from the browser. In such a case, if the authentication (cookie) information is confirmed by the server 50 (S3: YES), the user ID and the password included in the cookie information are received by the server 50 (S4). Next, the server 50 refers to identification information (user ID and password) registered in advance as a cookie function (S5), and authenticates that the user is a registered user (S6).

Next, the server 50 transmits, to the browser of the PC, data for prompting the user A to input whether or not to acknowledge the click of the mobile link button 32 (see FIG. 4). S7). In step S8, P
The browser of C10 transmits to the server 50 data corresponding to the data transmitted in the process of step S7 and describing that the click is approved. Server 50
The side receives the data (S9).

Next, the server 50 activates a program for database storage processing (S10), and classifies the spot information sent as URL parameter data for CGI script activation for each user ID. And records it in the database 51.

On the other hand, if the cookie information cannot be obtained from the browser of the PC 10 in step S3, it is determined whether the user A is the first user to use the spot information transfer service using the mobile link button 32 or not. This is the case where the user A has not made the setting for saving the cookie information using the browser of the PC 10. In such a case, if the cookie information cannot be obtained in step S2 (S2: NO), the server 5
The program 0 displays a message on the browser screen of the PC 10 to prompt the user to input a user ID and a password. FIG. 5 shows an example of a display for prompting the input of the user ID and the password. As shown in FIG. 5, an e-mail address (e-mail address) can be used here as an example of the user ID.

When the user A has experience using the information transfer by the mobile link button 32 and the attribute data of the user A is registered in the server 50 (S13: Y
ES), the user A enters the user ID on the ID input screen 57
And a password (S14). Here, the user A does not enter the user ID and the password (ie, saves the cookie information) from the next time and automatically performs the user authentication as performed in the above-described steps S3 to S6. If so, the user checks the check box 57a. When the transmission button 57b is clicked by the user A (S15: YES), the user A enters the ID input screen 5
The content input in step 7 is transmitted to the server 50.

On the server 50 side, check box 5
7a is checked (S1).
6). If the check box 57a is checked (S16: YES), the user A enters the ID input screen 5
7 and the user information uniquely issued by the server 50 are transmitted to the browser of the PC 10 as cookie information (recognition information) (S17). PC1
In the browser 0, the received cookie information is stored in a storage device such as a hard disk (S18). When the next button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S4, where the server 50
Receives the cookie information from the browser of the PC 10.

If the check box 57a is not checked in step S16 (S16: N
O), the process proceeds to step S6, and the user A who has entered the ID input screen 57 by the user A as the cookie function
User authentication using D and a password is performed.

On the other hand, if the user A has not started using the spot information transfer with the mobile link button 32, the attribute data is not registered in the server 50 (S13: NO). The user clicks a cancel button 57c on the ID input screen 57. When the click of the cancel button 57c is recognized by the program of the server 50 (S19: YES), the server 5
0 displays a guide screen 59 (see FIG. 6) for registering user attribute data on the browser screen of the PC 10 (S20).

When the user A clicks the pointer 59a marked "to the member registration page" on the guide screen 59, a screen 6 for guiding the registered contents to the browser of the PC 10 is displayed.
0 (see FIG. 7) is displayed. Screen 6 as shown in FIG.
In the case of 0, the approval of the registration is prompted (S23), and the user A
Box 6 with "Accept" when registering
Click 0a. Note that the process can be terminated by clicking the box 60b in which "I do not accept" is clicked.

When the user A clicks on the box 60a written "Accept", the process proceeds to step 24, and the attribute data registration screen 58 is displayed on the browser of the PC 10.
(See FIG. 8) is displayed. The user A inputs necessary items on the attribute data registration screen 58 (S25), and thereafter,
Click the send button 58b on the registration screen 58 (S
26). The attribute data input on the registration screen 58 by clicking the transmission button 58b is transferred to the server 50 (S27).

The program of the server 50 processes the transmitted attribute data (S28), adds the user information, newly records it in the database 51, and creates a database (S29). Next, the server 50 starts sending a message to the effect that registration to the database has been completed to the user A of the PC 10 (S30). In step S31, the server 50 transmits HTML format data describing the completion of the registration to the browser of the PC 10, thereby displaying on the browser of the PC 10 that the registration is completed. Person A recognizes that the registration has been completed. Thereafter, the processing shifts to the processing from step S14.

FIG. 9 shows a car navigation device 70 mounted on an automobile owned by the user A, as shown in FIGS.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data transmission / reception operation when spot information stored in the database 51 of the server 50 is acquired by the processing described above with reference to FIG. Also,
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the details. In the car navigation device 70, when the power is turned on, a browser or a mailer is started, and when connection to the Internet is made via the mobile phone 71, download software for downloading data from the server 50 is started. It is configured to be. This download software is a smart pull type software that is configured to automatically acquire spot information from the server 50 using the user ID and password of the user A registered in advance in the download software. Wear. Hereinafter, this download software is referred to as a smart pull application.

In FIG. 9A, when the smart pull application logs into the server 50 and requests the transfer of spot information (arrow 73), the server 50 sends
The request for the user ID and password is returned (arrow 6
1). When the smart pull application sends the user ID and the password (arrow 74), the server 5
At 0, user authentication based on the user ID and the password is performed. In FIG. 9B, when user authentication is performed in the server 50, spot information associated with the user ID of the user A in the database 51 is transferred to the car navigation device 70 via the mobile phone 71. . In transferring the spot information associated with the user ID, the server 50 sets a flag for the spot information that has already been transferred to the user A, so that the transfer request from the user A can be satisfied. On the other hand, difference information which is information of a part different from the content downloaded last time is transferred.

This will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S51, a browser or a mailer is started in the car navigation device 70, and Internet connection is established (S5).
2). Next, the smart pull application is activated (S53) and logged on to the server 50 (S5).
4). Next, in step S55, a file transfer request is sent from the smart pull application to the server 50.

In step S56, the program running on the server 50 requests the smart pull application for the smart pull application ID and password. The smart pull application sends the user ID and password written and held in advance in the smart pull application to the server 50 (S57). The server 50
User I received from smart pull application
Perform user authentication based on D and password (S5
8). When the user authentication is performed in step S58, the server 50 searches the database 51 for the one to which the received user ID is added (S50).
59). When a user ID corresponding to the received user ID is found in the database 51 (S60), the presence / absence of a flag is identified for the file (spot information) associated with the received user ID in the database 51 ( S61). This flag is the user ID
Is added by a program of the server 50 in order to identify that the file has been already transferred. The server 50 stores the spot information in a position information description format suitable for use in a portable information terminal such as a car navigation device, for example, POIX (Point Of Interest eXchange Language).
e) and stored in the database 51. In addition, this format can use not only POIX but also mobile web, XML (extensible Markup Language), and any other format that can be used in a portable information terminal.

In step S62, after selecting a file without a flag, that is, difference information, the selected file is sent to the smart pull application. Smart pull application server 5
1 (S63), and displays the number of received files on the desktop on the display screen of the car navigation device 70 (S64). Next, the smart pull application displays a message asking whether to acquire the received file on the display screen, and prompts the user of the car navigation device 70 to input a confirmation (S65). When the user clicks the OK button to approve the acquisition of the file via the user interface of the car navigation device 70 (S6)
6) The file is stored in the registration list (that is, the storage device of the car navigation device 70) (S6).
7).

The use of the spot information obtained by the car navigation device 70 in a navigation application will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 11 shows a menu screen 77 of the navigation application. FIG. 11 (a) shows that user A
In order to view the downloaded information, the user operates the operation key, which is a user interface of the car navigation device 70, to select the item 77a of the "destination" on the menu screen 77, and to select the item "favorite" or "register This shows a state where the item 77b is selected. As a result, the data sorted according to the classification code of the spot information is displayed as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11B, the items are classified into “car & drive”, “play”, and “eat” according to the classification code.

FIG. 11C shows the item 77c of "eat".
Represents the screen after is selected. "Fast food" according to the lower category of the classification code,
Sorted and displayed in the items of "sushi shop" and "Chinese cuisine". Here, if the item 77d of "Chinese cuisine" is selected, spot names of Chinese restaurants displayed in the order of Aihuao or alphabetically are displayed as shown in FIG. 11D.

FIG. 12 shows a display screen when a route is calculated using the restaurant displayed in FIG. 11D as a destination. When the user A selects the spot name portion 77e on the screen on which the target restaurant is displayed (FIG. 12A), the navigation application uses the position data (latitude and longitude) and the map data of the restaurant. Then, on the map screen, the cross key 77f is used to indicate the location of the restaurant. When the user A operates the operation keys here, the destination is set and the route is calculated.

On the other hand, FIG. 13 shows a case where the spot information of the restaurant displayed in FIG. 11D is displayed. As shown in FIG. 13A, when the “guide” item 77g placed on the menu screen is selected, the spot information of the restaurant is displayed.

FIG. 14 shows a case where the car navigation device 70 does not have a smart pull application by using a smart pull application free download service provided on a site operated by a car navigation device maker or the like. This shows the case where an application is downloaded. FIG.
(A) shows the screen 130 of the site operated by the car navigation maker. The screen 130 displays a button 131 for downloading the smart pull application together with various contents. The user accessing this site has a button 131
By clicking, you can download the smart pull application. When the download is completed and the installation of the smart pull application is started, a screen 13 prompting registration of the user attribute data
2 is displayed, and when the user A inputs user attribute data according to the screen 132, these user attribute data are stored in the smart pull application.
The stored user attribute data is used to receive user authentication when the smart pull application is activated and sends a spot information transfer request to the server 50.

In the above embodiment, the case where the user A uses the spot information by using the car navigation device 70 has been described. However, as shown in FIG. It goes without saying that even if the portable information terminal using the information is the portable computer 90, the same functions as those described above for the car navigation device 70 can be realized.

A plurality of portable information terminals having an infrared communication function such as IrDA can share the spot information acquired by one portable information terminal.

It goes without saying that various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiment.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the user collects information in advance on the server using the function provided by the mobile link button. However, if the server 50 has useful spot information or the like,
The database associated with the user's identification information is
Embodiments are also conceivable in which a configuration is provided that does not require collection by the user and that provides useful spot information. Also in this case, the car navigation device can automatically acquire useful spot information from the database of the server by the smart pull application.

Further, since information such as an e-mail address is stored in the server 50 as identification information of a user who uses the information distribution system 100, the identification information is used to allow the server 50 to carry the user's portable information. Information terminal or P
For C, it is possible to configure an advertisement distribution system for a service that automatically distributes store information such as restaurants and inns as an advertisement or sales promotion of a store operator. In particular, since the store information collected by the user is stored in the database 51 in the server 50 for each piece of identification information that can specify the user of the information distribution system 100 as a history, the user is determined based on the stored information. By judging the preference of the user, it is possible to distribute an advertisement having a value that is high for the user.

[0070]

As described above, according to the information distribution system of the present invention, a user who accesses a site using a PC transfers the contents of the site to his / her portable information terminal by a simple operation. A system is provided that enables A user of a portable information terminal accesses a site using a terminal such as a PC at home and clicks a mobile link button, thereby accessing a site on the Internet on the portable information terminal side and searching for information. Without doing this, that is, without performing any special work on the information on the Internet on the portable information terminal side, information on a desired site can be obtained on the portable information terminal side. Therefore, the user of the portable information terminal can obtain the same effect as browsing the Internet using a PC in a comfortable environment such as at home or office, even in an inconvenient environment such as a mobile environment. Can be.

Using the acquired spot information, the portable information terminal can display and confirm the position of the spot on a map on the map, or use it in a navigation application.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an entire information distribution system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a data transmission / reception operation between a user, a site, and a server.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information distribution system of FIG. 1 together with FIG. 4 in detail.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information distribution system of FIG. 1 together with FIG. 3 in detail.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen for prompting input of a user ID and a password.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a guidance screen for registering user attribute data.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen for guiding registered contents as a screen following the screen of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a registration screen of attribute data.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a data transmission / reception operation when the car navigation device acquires spot information recorded in a database of a server.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating details of processing when the car navigation device acquires spot information recorded in a database of a server.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display screen when searching for spot information on a menu screen of the navigation application.

FIG. 12 shows a navigation application.
It is a figure showing the display screen at the time of route calculation of the position of the searched spot.

FIG. 13 In a navigation application,
It is a figure showing the display screen at the time of displaying the spot information of the searched spot.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining processing when downloading a smart pull application.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 personal computer (PC) 30 site screen 32 mobile link button 50 server 51 database 70 car navigation device 71 mobile phone 90 mobile computer 91 mobile phone 100 information distribution system

Claims (35)

[Claims] 1. An information terminal which can be connected to each other via a network, a site providing content, and a server located at a predetermined network address, wherein the information terminal transmits the content information of the site to the server. An information distribution system capable of acquiring the content from a site to a terminal accessing the site, the function providing means for providing a function of transmitting a processing start request and the content information to the server. The server comprises: processing request receiving means for receiving the processing start request and the content information; and identification information relating to a terminal accessing the site when the processing request receiving means receives the processing start request. Identification information acquisition means for acquiring the content information and the identification information Database recording means for associating and recording in a database; information providing means for receiving a transfer request and the identification information, searching the database based on the received identification information, and providing the content information associated with the identification information; The information terminal accesses the server and sends the identification information and the transfer request to the information providing means, and is associated with the identification information sent from the information terminal from the information providing means. An information acquisition unit for acquiring the content information. 2. An information terminal that can be connected to each other via a network, a site that provides contents, and a server that exists at a predetermined network address. The information terminal transmits the contents information of the site to the server. An information distribution system capable of acquiring information from a site, wherein the site is a browser operating on a terminal that accesses the site,
A receiving function providing unit that provides a processing start request and a reception button having a function of transmitting the content information to the server, wherein the server receives the processing start request from the browser and cooperates with the browser An identification information acquiring unit that operates to acquire identification information from the browser; a database recording unit that associates the content information sent with the processing start request with the identification information and records the content information in a database; Information providing means for receiving the identification information, searching the database based on the received identification information, and providing the content information associated with the identification information, wherein the information terminal accesses the server Sends the identification information and the transfer request to the information providing means. Information distribution system, characterized in, that it has an information acquisition means for acquiring the content information associated with the identification information from the information providing means is transmitted from the information terminal. 3. The identification information acquiring means of the server, when the identification information cannot be acquired from the browser, displays a prompt for input of the identification information on a display screen of the browser to acquire the identification information. 3. The information distribution system according to claim 2, further comprising an identification information input unit that performs identification information. 4. The server further comprises first authentication means for performing user authentication based on the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition means and identification information registered in the server in advance, wherein the database comprises: The recording means is
4. The information distribution system according to claim 2, wherein the content information is recorded in the database only when a terminal accessing the site is authenticated by the first authentication unit. 5. The information providing means of the server, wherein, when the transfer request is received from the information obtaining means of the information terminal, the identification information sent from the information obtaining means and the information registered in the server in advance. A second authentication unit for performing user authentication based on the identification information;
5. The information distribution system according to claim 2, wherein the content information is provided only when the information terminal is authenticated by the authentication unit. 6. The information distribution system according to claim 2, wherein the identification information includes a user ID and a password. 7. The information distribution system according to claim 6, wherein the identification information further includes a name and an e-mail address of the user. 8. The reception button provided to the browser of the user terminal by the reception function providing means is designated by a pointer on a terminal accessing the site and is clicked by one click to the server. 8. The information distribution system according to claim 2, wherein the content information is transmitted together with a processing start request. 9. The information terminal according to claim 2, further comprising a first storage unit for storing the content of the content information acquired by the information acquisition unit. Information distribution system described. 10. The information terminal according to claim 2, further comprising first display control means for displaying the content information acquired by the information acquisition means on a display screen of the information terminal. The information distribution system according to claim 9. 11. The information distribution system according to claim 2, wherein the content information is spot information. 12. The information distribution system according to claim 11, wherein the spot information includes at least position information indicating a position of the spot. 13. The spot information further includes a spot name of the spot, business hours, regular holidays, telephone numbers,
13. The information distribution system according to claim 12, wherein the information distribution system includes at least one of classification codes indicating a type of the spot. 14. The information distribution system according to claim 13, wherein the information terminal further includes a second storage unit that stores the acquired spot information. 15. The information terminal further comprising: second display control means for performing control to display the spot information stored in the second storage means on a display screen of the information terminal. The information distribution system according to claim 14, wherein 16. The information terminal further has map data, and the second display control means performs control for combining the map data and the spot information and displaying the combined data on a display screen of the information terminal. The information distribution system according to claim 15, wherein: 17. The second display control means stores the spot information in the second storage means based on at least one of the position information, business hours, regular holidays, telephone numbers, and classification codes. 16. A search unit for searching for the spot information obtained.
Alternatively, the information distribution system according to claim 16. 18. The information terminal further comprising a route calculation unit that performs a route calculation based on the position information of the spot information stored in the second storage unit. The information distribution system according to any one of claims 14 to 17. 19. An information distribution system, comprising: an information terminal connectable to each other via a network; and a server located at a predetermined network address, wherein the server is a database in which identification information and spot information are associated with each other. And information providing means for receiving a transfer request and the identification information, searching the database based on the received identification information, and providing the spot information associated with the identification information, Accessing the server, sending the identification information and the transfer request to the information providing means, and obtaining the spot information associated with the identification information sent from the information providing means for the information terminal. An information delivery system, characterized by having means. 20. The information providing means of the server, when receiving the transfer request from the information obtaining means of the information terminal, the identification information sent from the information obtaining means and the identification information registered in the server in advance. 20. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising: third authentication means for performing user authentication based on the information and providing the spot information only when the information terminal side is authenticated by the third authentication means. Information distribution system described. 21. The information distribution system according to claim 19, wherein the identification information includes a user ID and a password. 22. The information distribution system according to claim 19, wherein the spot information includes at least position information indicating a position of the spot. 23. The spot information further includes a spot name, business hours, regular holidays, telephone numbers,
23. The information distribution system according to claim 22, wherein the information distribution system includes at least one of classification codes indicating a type of the spot. 24. The information distribution system according to claim 23, wherein the information terminal further includes a third storage unit that stores the acquired spot information. 25. The information terminal, further comprising: third display control means for performing control to display the spot information stored in the third storage means on a display screen of the information terminal. 25. The information distribution system according to claim 24, wherein: 26. The information terminal further includes map data, and the third display control means performs control of combining the map data and the spot information and displaying the combined data on a display screen of the information terminal. 26. The information distribution system according to claim 25, wherein: 27. The third display control means stores the spot information in the third storage means based on at least one of the position information, business hours, regular holidays, telephone numbers, and classification codes. 3. A search means for searching the stored spot information.
An information distribution system according to claim 5 or claim 26. 28. The information terminal according to claim 24, further comprising a route calculation unit that performs a route calculation based on position information of the spot information stored in the third storage unit. 28. The information distribution system according to claim 27. 29. A detecting means connected via a network for detecting a processing start request from a terminal accessing a predetermined site, an information receiving means for receiving content information of the predetermined site, and the processing start A first identification information acquisition unit that acquires the identification information of the terminal that has sent the request; and a storage unit that stores the content information received by the information reception unit in association with the acquired identification information. Information distribution device. 30. An access detecting means for detecting an access from an information terminal; a second identification information obtaining means for obtaining identification information of the accessed information terminal; and a second identification information obtaining means for storing in the storage means. 30. The information distribution apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising: an information providing unit that provides content information stored in association with the identification information acquired by the unit to the accessed information terminal. 31. The information distribution apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising a data conversion unit configured to convert the content information into data of a predetermined format. 32. The information providing means includes means for providing only difference information excluding content information already transferred to the information terminal from the content information stored in the storage means, Claim 3 characterized by the following:
32. The information distribution device according to claim 31 or claim 32. 33. An information terminal device connected via a network and capable of accessing an information distribution device in which content information is stored in association with each piece of identification information, wherein the information terminal device accesses the information distribution device when accessing the information distribution device. Identification information transmitting means for transmitting identification information for identifying the terminal device side; and information receiving means for receiving content information transmitted from the information distribution device in accordance with the transmitted identification information. An information terminal device characterized by the above-mentioned. 34. The received content information includes location information on a site from which the content information is provided, and the information terminal device further includes: map data; the map data; and the received location information. 34. The information terminal device according to claim 33, further comprising: display control means for combining and displaying on a display screen of the information terminal device. 35. The information terminal device according to claim 34, further comprising a route calculating unit that performs a route calculation based on the received position information.