JP2002259785A - Usage promoting device, usage promoting method and usage promoting program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promote usage of an information acquiring service available through a network. SOLUTION: A usage promoting server 10 coordinates particular service information relevant to a particular service and privilege service information relevant to a privilege service privileged when using the particular service and registers them in privilege service list data 22b. The usage promoting server 10 has a service provider set the particular service so that usage of the privilege service corresponding to the particular service registered in the privilege service list data 22b is privileged to a user using the particular service when it is detected that the particular service is used by the user. The usage promotion server 10 registers a usage status in individual usage status data 22c and charges a fee to the service provider when the privilege service is used by a user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a use promotion device and a use promotion device for promoting use of an information acquisition service available through a network such as television broadcasting (satellite broadcasting, CATV (Cable Television), etc.) and data distribution. Method and use promotion program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a method of using a pay channel of a television broadcast (satellite broadcast, CATV (Cable Television), etc.), a pay-per-view (PPV) (Pay per pay) program pays only for the program viewed and time. Vi
ew) and pay services such as PPC (Pay per Channel), which pays a monthly fee for a contracted channel regardless of viewing time. In addition, the use of data distribution services for acquiring data of music or video (moving images, still images) through a network such as the Internet and paying a fee in accordance with the contents of the data is increasing.

[0003] By the way, a provider (operator) of an information acquisition service such as a pay service or a data distribution service may carry out a campaign of giving present goods to service users in order to increase the number of users. . For example, a Web site is established on the Internet, and an ID information (identification code) issued to a user of the information acquisition service is specified on the Web page, so that a gift product can be applied. As the present product, for example, a product related to a genre or information content provided by the information acquisition service is prepared. As a result, viewers who are interested in the genre and information content provided by the information acquisition service are motivated to acquire the present product, and accordingly, the user is requested to apply for the information acquisition service. .

[0004]

As described above, in the related art, a gift product is provided to a viewer to apply for a user subscription to an information acquisition service, thereby promoting the use of the information acquisition service. ing.

However, in the above-described method for promoting the use of the information acquisition service, the number of users (subscribers) of the information acquisition service can be increased, but the use of various services provided by the information acquisition service is promoted. It was not something. That is, if a user can obtain ID information (identification code) by applying for a subscription, the user can apply for a gift product without actually using the service. The service was not effectively promoted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a use promotion device, a use promotion method, and a use promotion program capable of promoting use of an information acquisition service available through a network. The purpose is to:

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a use promotion device for promoting use of an information acquisition service that can be used through a network in a terminal, wherein information indicating a first information acquisition service and second information are provided. Service storage means for storing information indicating an acquisition service in association with each other; use service detection means for detecting use of the information acquisition service in the terminal; and information storage service detected by the use service detection means for storing the service in the service storage means. If the information stored in the means is the first information acquisition service, the terminal obtains the second information based on the information indicating the second information acquisition service corresponding to the first information acquisition service. Setting means for setting so that use of the service is preferentially provided.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a use promotion server 10 (use promotion device) communicates with various information devices (networks) including various communication systems such as the Internet and a public line network (wired communication line, wireless communication line). Information distribution server 12, mobile terminal 1
4. Broadcast management server 16, home system 18, and bank server 19). The mobile terminal 14 has a wireless communication function, and has a PHS (pers
It is connected by a wireless communication line such as an onal handyphone system or a mobile phone.

The use promotion server 10, information distribution server 12, portable terminal 14, and broadcast management server 16 shown in FIG.
A program recorded on various recording media is read, and the functions of a computer whose operation is controlled by the read program are installed and configured.

[0010] The usage promotion server 10 is an information distribution server 1
2 and a viewer service for promoting the use of the information acquisition service provided by the broadcast management server 16. Specific service information indicating a specific information acquisition service (first information acquisition service) When the specific information acquisition service indicated by the specific service information is used, preferential service information indicating an information acquisition service (second information acquisition service) to be preferentially used by the user is stored in association with the user. In addition, the usage promotion server 10 includes the mobile terminal 1
4 and the use of the information acquisition service in the home system 18 (terminal) via the network 11, and if the detected information acquisition service is the specific information acquisition service indicated by the specific service information, the specific information acquisition service A function is provided for setting based on the preferential service information stored in association with the use of the information acquisition service by the portable terminal 14 or the home system 18. Note that the preferential use of the information acquisition service according to the present embodiment includes the use of an information acquisition service that cannot be normally used, the reduction of the burden on the user (the cost required for information acquisition), and the Some rewards (including gifts) are given to them.

The information distribution server 12 is connected to the network 11
Provides data distribution services that distribute various data such as music and video (moving images, still images) through
For example, a data request is received from the mobile terminal 14 or the home system 18 via a Web site on the Internet, and data corresponding to the request is distributed.

The portable terminal 14 is an information processing terminal equipped with a function of performing wireless communication through the base station 13. For example, the portable terminal 14 accesses the information distribution server 12 and uses a data distribution service to acquire various data. Can be saved. For example, it is possible to receive music data and reproduce the music and output it from a speaker or headphones, or to receive the video data and reproduce the video and display and output it on a display.

The broadcast management server 16 has a broadcast satellite (BS)
(Broadcasting Satellite), CS (Communications S
a server that manages a television broadcast using a CATV cable network or a television broadcast through a broadcasting satellite by an information acquisition service using a PPV or a PPC. Provided (it is assumed that PPV is used in the following description). Further, the broadcast management server 16 may realize interactive television that provides a service desired by the viewer while the viewer and the service provider interact with each other.

The home system 18 is a system for using an information acquisition service in a general home, and includes a satellite broadcast antenna 18a, a television receiver 18b, a digital satellite tuner 18c, an IC card 18d,
Telephone line distributor 18e, personal computer 18
f, a tuner remote controller 18g, an AV device 18h, and the like. In the home system 18, a broadcast wave is received from a broadcast satellite by a satellite broadcast antenna 18a, and a television broadcast or a screen for providing various services tuned by a satellite broadcast digital tuner 18c is displayed on a television receiver 18b. When using the pay service by PPV, the satellite tuner digital tuner 18c uses the IC card 1 in which a user-specific PPV ID previously provided to the user is recorded.
8d is attached. Digital tuner for satellite broadcasting 18c
When providing a paid service, the IC card 18
Recognize the PPV ID recorded in d.
If the ID is the ID, the information received from the broadcast management server 16 through the broadcast satellite is provided to the user by the television receiver 18b, and the billing information corresponding to the use of the pay service is recorded in the IC card 18d. The satellite broadcast digital tuner 18c is connected to a telephone line through a telephone line distributor 18e, and is connected to the broadcast management server 16 via the network 11 including the Internet through the telephone line.
Is connected to The digital tuner 18c for satellite broadcasting is
Broadcast management server 1 through telephone line and network 11
6 enables transmission and reception of various data, for example, setting or canceling of various functions by remote control of the broadcast management server 16, and predetermined timing of billing information recorded on the IC card 18d (for example, at the end of the month, etc.). For every certain period of time). The satellite broadcast digital tuner 18c is a tuner remote controller 1 operated by a user.
8g. Also, the telephone line distributor 18e
Is connected to a personal computer 18f. The personal computer 18f is connected to various information devices (the use promotion server 1) through the telephone line and the network 11.
0, the information distribution server 12, the mobile terminal 14, the broadcast management server 16, the home system 18, and the bank server 19), and are also used as terminals that use the information acquisition service. The AV device 18h includes audio and video (Vide
o), and is connected to the satellite broadcast digital tuner 18c. AV equipment 18h
Are assumed to include an amplifier, a speaker, a video deck (for various media such as tapes, DVDs, and CDs).

The bank server 19 is a server of a bank in which an information acquisition service provider, that is, an operator of the information distribution server 12 or the broadcast management server 16 has opened an account. The operation (charging process) for the bank account is performed by the operation. In the present embodiment, the viewer service provided by the use promotion server 10 charges a service provider whose information acquisition service is used as a specific service or preferential service.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the usage promotion server 10 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, in the usage promotion server 10, the CPU 20
The recording medium reading unit 24, the communication control unit 25, the display unit 26, and the input unit 27 are mutually connected.

The CPU 20 controls the entire use promotion server 10, and executes various processes by executing programs recorded in the memory 22. CPU2
0 is the usage promotion program 22 recorded in the memory 22
The viewer service is realized by executing a.

The viewer service includes specific service information indicating a specific information acquisition service, preferential service information indicating an information acquisition service that can be preferentially used when the specific information acquisition service indicated by the specific service information is used, and Are stored in association with each other, and the use of the information acquisition service in the portable terminal 14 or the home system 18 (terminal) is detected through the network 11, and the detected information acquisition service is the specific information acquisition service indicated by the specific service information. In this case, based on the preferential service information stored in association with the specific information acquiring service, the setting is made such that the use of the information acquiring service indicated by the preferential service information by the portable terminal 14 or the home system 18 is preferentially performed.

The memory 22 is for storing information on programs and data accessed by the CPU 20 as necessary, for example, by reading them from a recording medium 23.
In this embodiment, for example, various programs such as the use promotion program 22a, various data used when executing each program, and a work area for temporarily recording work data are set. The various data stored with the execution of the use promotion program 22a (viewer service) include specific service information indicating a specific information acquisition service, and a specific information acquisition service indicated by the specific service information. Preferential service list data 22b registered in association with preferential service information indicating information acquisition services that can be preferentially used, and the use status of preferential services of each user who can use the preferential services registered in the preferential service list data 22b And usage information data 22c in which individual information is registered, and charging data 22d in which charging information for the service provider of the preferential service is registered. The details of each data will be described later (FIG. 3).

The memory 22 shown in FIG. 1 shows programs and data to be recorded at a certain point in time.
It is assumed to be stored in

The recording medium reading section 24 has a recording medium 23, and executes recording and reading of programs, data and the like on the recording medium 23. The recording medium 23 is magnetic,
It is composed of an optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory, and is fixedly provided in the recording medium reading unit 24 or is detachably mounted. The program, data, and the like recorded on the recording medium 23 may be received and recorded from another device connected via a communication line or the like. A recording device provided with a recording medium may be provided on another device side, and the program and data recorded on the recording medium may be used via a communication line. The recording medium reading unit 24 can also record various data used by various applications on the recording medium 23, read it out as needed, and record it in the memory 22.

The communication control unit 25 controls communication with other electronic devices (the information distribution server 12, the portable terminal 14, the broadcast management server 16, the bank server 19, etc.) via the network 11 under the control of the CPU 20. I do. The display unit 26
This is for displaying various information, and displays a screen accompanying execution of various programs stored in the memory 22. The input unit 27 includes a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse, and is used to input data and various instructions.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, preferential service list data 22b (FIG. 3A) managed for viewer services in the use promotion server 10, and individual use status data 22c (FIG. b)), billing data 22d
An example of the data configuration of (FIG. 3C) will be described.

The preferential service list data 22b is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), specific service information relating to a specific service targeted for the viewer service is associated with preferential service information in which the contents of the preferential service that is preferential when the specific service is used are set. . The specific service information includes “specific service number”, “service provider”, “service content”, and data indicating a storage location (directory) of data provided as service content. For example, the service content of the specific service number "" is "PPV viewing", which indicates that the service provider is "perp TV" and the data is stored in the directory "\ PPV program \ [soccer]". . The preferential service information includes "preferential service number"
Includes data showing “preferential conditions”, “preferential service contents”, storage location (directory) of “data” provided as preferential service contents, and “preferential password” for identifying the recipient of the preferential service. I have. For example, the preferential service corresponding to the specific service with the specific service number “” is the preferential service number “S01”, the preferential condition is “specific service use” of the specific service number, and the preferential service content is “can be used for soccer ticket reservation”. Yes,
The storage location (directory) of the data provided as the preferential service content is a URL (uniform resourcelocator) "http: //
www.soccerticket… ”, and the preferential password required to make a soccer ticket reservation on this soccer ticket reservation Web site is“ ABC *** 98
7 ".

The individual use status data 22c is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the information about the user of the preferential service, the e-mail address of the user (“user address”), the PPV issued to the user in advance
"P" unique to the user specified when using the service
"PV ID", "Month and date" when the user used the specific service, "Usage specific service" indicating the specific service number of the specific service used, preferential service available to the user (for the specific service used by the user, The data includes a “preferential service number” of the corresponding preferential service and “preferential processing” data indicating whether or not the preferential service has been used.

As shown in FIG. 3C, the billing data 22d is information relating to billing for each service provider of the specific service or preferential service registered in the preferential service list data 22b. The data includes a “preferential service number” indicating the preferential service, a “charge amount” for the preferential service, and “total” of a charge amount for each preferential service to the service provider. Although FIG. 3C shows only data for each service provider of the preferential service, data relating to charging is similarly registered for data of each service provider of the specific service.

Next, the operation of the use promotion process by the use promotion server 10 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The usage promotion server 10 executes the usage promotion program 22a,
The usage promotion process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is executed.

When the service provider providing the information acquisition service uses the viewer service provided by the use promotion server 10, the service provider provides the specific service or the service provider of the preferential service. And an information acquisition service targeted by the viewer service, that is, information on the specific service and the preferential service (the specific service information and the preferential service information) is stored in advance in the use promotion server 10 as the preferential service list data 22b. It is registered (see FIG. 3A).

An operator of the usage promotion server 10 and a service provider (information distribution server 12 or broadcast management server 16) providing information acquisition services make a contract, and the information distribution server 12 or broadcast management server 16 Provides the information acquisition service to the user (terminal used by the user), indicates the use status of the information acquisition service from the respective servers 12 and 16 to the use promotion server 10 via the network 11. Usage information is transmitted. The usage information includes the email address (user address) of the user who used the information acquisition service, the service content of the information acquisition service used, the date and time of use,
When the PPV service is used, it is assumed that each data of the PPV ID issued to the user is included.

First, when the use promotion server 10 receives the use information from the information distribution server 12 or the broadcast management server 16 via the network 11 (step A1), the use promotion server 10 refers to the preferential service list data 22b to obtain the information indicated by the use information. It is determined whether or not the service is a specific service (step A2). That is, it searches whether the information acquisition service indicated by the usage information is registered in the “service content” of the specific service information of the preferential service list data 22b.

Here, if the information acquisition service indicated by the usage information is not registered in the "service content" of the specific service information, the usage promotion server 10 determines that the service is out of the target of the viewer service, and The process ends.

On the other hand, when the information acquisition service indicated by the usage information is registered in the “service content” of the specific service information, the usage promotion server 10 determines the individual service based on the data included in the usage information. The user's e-mail address (user address), the use specific service number (service content) indicating the used information acquisition service, and the date and time when the information acquisition service was used are associated with the usage status data 22c. Register (step A3). Also,
If the PPV ID data is included in the usage information, this data is also registered in association with the PPV ID data. Note that the e-mail address and the PPV ID (at least one) included in the usage information have already been used for the individual usage status data 22.
c, that is, if the same user has already used another specific service, the correspondence between the e-mail address and the PPV ID data previously registered in the individual use situation data 22c In addition, the use specific service number and date are additionally registered.

Next, the use promotion server 10 determines that the specific service used by the user indicated by the use specific service number registered in the individual use situation data 22c is the "preferential service" of the preferential service information of the individual use situation data 22c. It is determined whether or not the condition is satisfied (step A4). Here, if the “preferential condition” of the preferential service information is not satisfied, the use promotion server 10 ends the processing assuming that the preferential service is not provided by the use of the information acquisition service indicated by the use information received this time. I do.

On the other hand, if the "preferential condition" of the preferential service information is satisfied, the use promotion server 10 registers the preferential service number of the corresponding preferential service information in the individual use status data 22c (step A5).

For example, when the specific service indicated by the specific service number in the preferential service list data 22b shown in FIG. 3A is used, the preferential condition of the corresponding preferential service information is "use of", so ". Therefore, the preferential service number “S01” indicating the preferential service information to which the “preferential condition” applies is registered in the individual use status data 22c in association with the user's e-mail address (user address).

The user address "tan" shown in FIG.
use status data 2 for users of "aka @ ..."
2c, preferential service number “S0” indicating preferential service information corresponding to the specific service indicated by the specific service number.
1 "and preferential service number" S0 "indicating preferential service information corresponding to the specific service indicated by the specific service number.
2 ”is registered.

The “preferential conditions” of the preferential service information include not only the simple conditions described above, but also the use of a specific service among a plurality of information acquisition services (specific services). You can register as. Further, a predetermined specific service among a plurality of specific services can be defined by selectively using an AND condition and an OR condition.

For example, in the preferential service information of the preferential service number “S03” shown in FIG. 3A, the use of three specific services indicated by the specific service numbers “” and “” as “preferential conditions”, ie, “ANDAND” "
The use of a plurality of specific services defined as is registered.

The user address "yam" shown in FIG.
ada @ ... "individual usage data 2
In 2c, the three specific services indicated by the specific service numbers are used and fall under the “preferential condition”.
A preferential service number “S03” indicating preferential service information corresponding to one specific service is registered. Also, a preferential service number “S04” indicating preferential service information corresponding to the specific service indicated by the specific service number is registered.

As another example of setting the “preferential condition” of the preferential service information, “OROR” and use of any one of the three specific services are set as the “preferential condition”. I can do it
((AND) OR (AND) OR (AND
)) And use of any two of the three specific services may be set as “preferential conditions”. As described above, between the service provider that provides the specific service and the service provider that provides the preferential service, the “preferential condition” is arbitrarily defined by selectively using the AND condition and the OR condition. be able to.

Next, the use promotion server 10 confirms the "preferential service contents" registered in the preferential service information (step A6), and the contents are set to "usable" of the special service prepared in advance as the preferential service. , Or “viewing fee off” for viewing by PPV (steps A7, A8).

Here, when the content of the preferential service is "viewing fee off" for viewing by PPV (step A)
8), the usage promotion server 10 determines the PPV ID of the user and the rate at which the viewing fee is turned off (previously registered as “preferred service contents”) by the server of the service provider providing the preferential service (for example, The program is transmitted to the broadcast management server 16), and the viewing fee for the user indicated by the PPV ID is discounted (step A9).

The broadcast management server 16 receives the PPV ID from the use promotion server 10 and receives the PPV ID.
When the discount setting for the user indicated by D is performed, the user is notified that the discount is set when using the information acquisition service. For example, when using the information acquisition service (PPV broadcast program) provided by the broadcast management server 16 in the home system 18, the PPV broadcast program list data is received from the broadcast management server 16 and the PPV broadcast program shown in FIG. A broadcast program list is displayed, and a user selects a program to be viewed from the list. At this time, the broadcast management server 16 acquires the PPV ID recorded on the IC card 18d mounted on the satellite broadcast digital tuner 18c, and this PPV ID is the PPV ID for which discount setting is to be performed. In this case, display data for notifying that the discount setting has been made in the subwindow is added to the PPV broadcast program list data. The satellite broadcast digital tuner 18c displays, in the sub-window area, contents for notifying the user of the discount setting, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, based on the display data for notifying that the discount setting has been made.
As a result, the user can use not only the e-mail from the use promotion server 10 but also the P provided by the broadcast management server 16.
It is possible to recognize that the preferential service can be used when using the PV.

Further, the use promotion server 10 notifies the user of the e-mail address (terminal used by the user) registered in the individual use situation data 22c of the preferential service data indicating the contents of the preferential service. Is transmitted (step A11).

FIG. 7 shows an example of an electronic mail for notifying preferential content data. As shown in FIG.
In the body of the e-mail,
The contents of the preferential service available to the user are presented together with a message notifying that the preferential service can be used by the user using the specific service.
For the character string indicating the contents of the preferential service, information indicating the provider of the preferential service, that is, the URL of a Web site on the Internet providing the preferential service (for example, a predetermined homepage distributed by the information Shown) is set. The terminal used by the user, when displaying the contents of the e-mail, if there is a selection operation (such as clicking with a mouse, etc.) of a character string representing the contents of the preferential service to be used, this character string Based on the URL set in, the user accesses the provider of the preferential service through the network 11 by using functions such as a mail program, a browser program, and an OS, so that the preferential service can be used immediately.

On the other hand, if the content of the preferential service is "usable" for the special service (step A7), the use promotion server 10 applies the preferential service when the user uses the preferential service as the special service. "Preferential password" to identify that the user is a valid user
Is transmitted to the server of the service provider providing the preferential service (for example, the information distribution server 12) (step A10). In addition, the usage promotion server 10
An e-mail for notifying preferential content data indicating the contents of the preferential service is transmitted to the e-mail address (terminal used by the user) of the user registered in the individual use status data 22c (step A11).

When issuing the "preferential password", the use promotion server 10 notifies the user of the data of the preferential password by e-mail as preferential content data. In this case, on the terminal used by the user,
A preferential password is also displayed when displaying the body of the email.

For example, when the information distribution server 12 provides a preferential service, when the user uses a terminal used by a user to access a homepage providing the preferential service, the information distribution server 12 inputs a preferential password on this homepage. Urge. When the information distribution server 12 acquires the preferential password through the homepage, it compares the preferential password notified from the use promoting server 10 with the preferential password and provides the preferential service if the password is correct.

In the above description, two types of preferential services are provided: "available" for special services and "viewing fee off" for viewing by PPV. It may be prepared.

Information distribution server 12 and broadcast management server 16
Transmits the usage information indicating the usage status of the preferential service to the use promotion server 10 via the network 11 when the preferential service (information acquisition service) is provided. Based on the use information, the use promotion server 10 performs “preferential processing” on the individual use status data 22c of the user who has used the preferential service so as to indicate that the preferential service has been used. “Done” data is registered (step A12).

Further, the usage promotion server 10 notifies the service provider of the specific service corresponding to the used preferential service that the preferential service has been used by the user and that a fee has been charged. At the same time (step A13), the charge amount is registered in association with the preferential service number of the preferential service used for the charge data 22d (step A14). Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3D, the usage promotion server 10 charges a service provider of the used preferential service in accordance with the use of the preferential service by the user. (Step A15), and the billing data 22
The charge amount is registered in association with the preferential service number of the preferential service used for d (step A16).

The usage promotion server 10 calculates the total amount of the billing amount for each service provider registered in the billing data 22d at a predetermined timing (for example, at a certain period such as the end of the month) and registers the total amount in the billing data 22d. At the same time, each service provider accesses the bank server 19 of the bank in which the account is opened, and executes a charging process for collecting the total amount of the charging as a usage fee for the viewer service.

In this way, by registering the specific service information and the preferential service information in the preferential service list data 22b by the viewer service provided by the use promotion server 10, the user can use the specific service. In order to do this, it can be set so that the preferential service corresponding to the specific service can be further used by the user. For example, the broadcast management server 16 (service provider “Perpeki T
V ”), the priority reservation of the soccer ticket provided by the information distribution server 12 (service provider“ ticket XX ”) is made in accordance with the viewing of the soccer program by the PPV provided by the PP.
Make it available as V preferential treatment service. further,
By using the preferential reservation of a soccer ticket as a PPV preferential service, a soccer program can be discounted and viewed. By providing various information acquisition services to the user in this way, the user's willingness to use the information acquisition service can be improved.

For the service provider, instead of advertising the information acquisition service to unspecified users,
Since it is set so that preferential services can be used only for users who actually use the information acquisition service (specific service), the use of the information acquisition service can be effectively expanded. In addition, since the information acquisition service is presented to the user as a special preferential service, the user's willingness to use the service can be further improved. Also,
Different types of information acquisition services can be associated in a complex manner by the specific service information and the preferential service information in the preferential service list data 22b, so that the use of one information acquisition service triggers the use of another information acquisition service. Can be enlarged.

Further, the user can use another information acquisition service as a preferential service by using the information acquisition service (specific service). Therefore, if the user is interested in a specific field, , You can get preferential treatment for various services related to the field.

Further, for the operator of the use promotion server 10, the user can use the preferential service,
It is possible to charge the provider of the information acquisition service and collect the charged amount through the network 11 to increase profit.

In the above description, by setting "preferential conditions" in the preferential service information of the preferential service list data 22b, one preferential service can be used for a plurality of specific services. However, a plurality of preferential services may be used for one specific service. That is, one of the specific service (first information acquisition service) and the preferential service (second information acquisition service) may include a plurality of information acquisition services.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified in an implementation stage without departing from the gist of the invention. Further, the functions executed in the above-described embodiments may be implemented in combination as appropriate as much as possible. The embodiments described above include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent features. For example, even if some components are deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment, if the effect is obtained, a configuration from which the components are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

The processing described in each of the above-described embodiments is, for example, a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CD-
(ROM, DVD, etc.), semiconductor memory, and the like, and can be provided to various devices. Further, it is also possible to transmit the data via a communication medium and provide the data to various devices. Server that provides viewer services (use promotion device)
The computer that realizes the above executes the information acquisition program recorded on the recording medium or receives the information acquisition program via the communication medium, and executes the above-described processing by controlling the operation of the program.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, when an information acquisition service is used by a user, the user who uses the information acquisition service is associated with the used information acquisition service. Can be set so that the use of another information acquisition service is preferentially performed, so that the use of the information acquisition service available through the network can be promoted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a use promotion server 10 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of preferential service list data 22b, individual use status data 22c, and billing data 22d managed by the use promotion server 10 for a viewer service.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of a usage promotion process by the usage promotion server 10 in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on which a list of PPV broadcast programs is displayed.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view showing an example of contents of notifying a user of a discount setting displayed in a sub window in a PPV broadcast program list.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic mail for notifying preferential treatment content data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Usage promotion server 11 ... Network 12 ... Information distribution server 13 ... Base station 14 ... Portable terminal 16 ... Broadcast management server 18 ... Home system 19 ... Bank server 20 ... CPU 22 ... Memory 22a ... Usage promotion program 22b ... List of preferential services Data 22c: Individual usage status data 22d: Billing data 23: Recording medium 24: Recording medium reading unit 25: Communication control unit 26: Display unit 27: Input unit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A use promotion device for promoting the use of an information acquisition service that can be used through a network in a terminal, and indicates another information acquisition service in association with predetermined information provided by the information acquisition service. Storing means for storing information; detecting means for detecting information obtained by using the information obtaining service in the terminal; and information stored by the storing means in association with the information detected by the detecting means. Setting means for setting the terminal to use the other information acquisition service preferentially based on the information indicating the information acquisition service. 2. A use promotion device for promoting the use of an information acquisition service available through a network in a terminal, wherein information indicating a first information acquisition service and information indicating a second information acquisition service are associated with each other. A service storage unit that additionally stores the information; a use service detection unit that detects use of the information acquisition service in the terminal; and information stored in the service storage unit that indicates the information acquisition service detected by the use service detection unit. In the case of the first information acquisition service, the terminal may preferentially use the second information acquisition service based on information indicating the second information acquisition service corresponding to the first information acquisition service. And a setting means for setting the usage. 3. The setting means transmits a setting request to a provider of the second information acquisition service so that the terminal is given preferential treatment when using the second information acquisition service. 3. The utilization promoting device according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The first information acquisition service and the second information acquisition service.
3. The use promotion device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the information acquisition services includes a plurality of information acquisition services. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first information acquisition service is an AND service.
3. The use promotion device according to claim 2, further comprising an information acquisition service defined by selectively using a condition and an OR condition. 6. The second set by the setting means.
Service detection means for detecting that the information acquisition service is used by the terminal, and a provider of the information acquisition service based on the second information acquisition service detected by the service detection means for use by the terminal. 3. The use promotion device according to claim 2, further comprising a charging unit that charges the user. 7. A use promotion program for promoting use of an information acquisition service available through a network at a terminal, comprising: a computer for transmitting information indicating a first information acquisition service and information indicating a second information acquisition service. A service storage unit for storing the information acquisition service in the terminal, a use service detection unit for detecting use of the information acquisition service in the terminal, and an information acquisition service detected by the use service detection unit stored in the service storage unit. In the case of the first information acquisition service, the terminal uses the second information acquisition service preferentially based on the information indicating the second information acquisition service corresponding to the first information acquisition service. A usage promotion program for functioning with setting means to be set. 8. A use promotion method for promoting use of an information acquisition service available through a network in a terminal, wherein information indicating a first information acquisition service is associated with information indicating a second information acquisition service. A service storing step of storing the information acquisition service in the terminal; and a first service storing the information acquisition service detected by the use service detecting step. In the case of the information acquisition service, the terminal is set based on information indicating the second information acquisition service corresponding to the first information acquisition service so that use of the second information acquisition service is preferentially performed in the terminal. And a setting step.