JP2002269221A - Electronic calling card providing method and electronic calling card providing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of difficulty in using a calling card data to store in a portable terminal etc., with a paper calling card in addition to the problem of compatibility of a software and a hardware. SOLUTION: An electronic calling card providing server 14 provides an environment to read an electronic calling card on a user terminal to be connected to it through the Internet 16. A discrimination part 32 accepts ID input of the electronic calling card to read, and a calling card display part 34 displays the electronic calling card corresponding to the ID. A reading record part 36 informs its registrant of a reading fact and records a reading history. A registration confirmation part 24 confirms to a reader whether its electronic calling card is already registered or not and recommends to newly register it when it is not registered. A registration information part 28 informs the registrant of the calling card which is read of calling card registration of the reader. A change reception part 42 receives a change of contents of the registered calling card, and a change information part 40 informs the past readers of the change.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic business card providing method and an electronic business card providing apparatus. The invention, in particular,
The present invention relates to a technique for acquiring information to be registered as an electronic business card from a user and publishing the information for browsing on a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, business card exchange has been indispensable as a business habit, but management of received business cards is complicated. As a tool for supporting the business card management, many software for electronically managing the contents of the business card are provided. Some of them work with scanners, but there is no big difference in the complexity of having to input data one by one. On the other hand, data to be posted on business cards
(Personal Digital Assistants) and technologies for handling mobile terminals such as mobile phones are also provided. In this case, the business card data is exchanged using infrared communication or wireless communication from a close distance of the partner terminal.

[0003]

However, business card exchange in a portable terminal is limited by the compatibility of hardware and software, etc., and has not yet become widespread as a technology for replacing a business card using a conventional paper medium. Moreover,
Just compelling the other party to use the electronic medium and the paper medium properly will confuse management. Therefore, it is considered that there is a potential demand for a technology that can also be used with a conventional business card and that facilitates data management.

The present inventor has made the present invention based on the above recognition. An object of the present invention is to combine an electronic business card registered on a network with a business card printed on paper to efficiently exchange and manage information. In providing technology.

[0005]

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for providing an electronic business card. In this method, when it is detected that the first user's electronic business card registered on the server is viewed by the second user, an opportunity to register his / her own electronic business card for the second user is displayed on the browsing screen. In the case where registration is performed as a result, the first user is notified of the registration, and the first user is allowed to view the second user's electronic business card. To achieve.

[0006] The "electronic business card" is an electronic form of information to be posted on a business card, and may be managed by unique information such as a business card ID. This electronic business card is different from a paper business card in that it can be browsed on a network. According to business habits, it is a manner to hand one's own business card to the other party who has received the business card. Similarly, it is expected that business cards will be actively exchanged for electronic business cards. The present invention pays attention to the manners, and provides an opportunity of registration on a browsing screen or a reply screen when a person who has not registered his / her own electronic business card browses another person's electronic business card.

[0007] The "first user" mainly indicates a registrant of the electronic business card, and the "second user" mainly indicates a viewer of the electronic business card.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing an electronic business card, comprising detecting a first user's electronic business card registered on a server when the first user is viewed by a second user. And the second user is recorded as a presentation destination, and when there is a change in the content of the electronic business card, the change is notified based on the record.

Here, the records of the "presentation source" and the "presentation destination" need only be related to each other in some form, and the data may be aggregated around one of them. For example, the presenter may be recorded in a business card album or address book of a viewer who is a presenter.

Still another preferred embodiment according to the present invention relates to an electronic business card providing device. The apparatus includes a business card management unit that manages the registered electronic business card in association with the identification information, an identification unit that receives the input of the identification information as the electronic business card browsing request, and a response to the browsing request. A business card display unit for displaying an electronic business card corresponding to the identification information, and a registration confirmation unit for inquiring the viewer whether or not the electronic business card of the viewer has already been registered when a browsing request is made,
If it is confirmed that the viewer's electronic business card has not been registered, a new registration unit that provides the viewer with an opportunity to register his / her own electronic business card through the on-screen interface, And a registration notifying unit that notifies the registrant of the electronic business card that the browsing person has viewed, when the registration has been made, to that effect.

[0011] The present device includes both a case where it refers to a server or a user terminal installed on a network and a case where it refers to a system including a server and a user terminal connected via a network. In the latter case, the functional blocks of the business card management unit, the identification unit, the business card display unit, the registration confirmation unit, the new registration unit, and the registration notification unit may be provided on the server side or provided on the user terminal side. Is also good. It may be provided in both the server and the user terminal, and in that case, each functional block may have the same name. Each of these functions is provided in the form of a program module, and may be executed by one or both of the server and the user terminal.

The “identification information” may be information such as a business card ID assigned to each business card, or information such as a registrant ID assigned to each registrant.

An electronic business card providing apparatus according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a business card management unit for managing a registered electronic business card in association with the identification information, and an identification for receiving an input of the identification information as a request for browsing the electronic business card. And a business card display unit for displaying an electronic business card corresponding to the input identification information in response to the browsing request, and a correspondence relationship between the viewer and the viewed electronic business card when the electronic business card is viewed And a change notifying unit that notifies the viewer of the change in the content of the electronic business card based on the correspondence when the content of the electronic business card is changed.

[0014] Also in the present embodiment, the present apparatus can be used to indicate either a server or a user terminal installed on a network, or a system including a server and a user terminal connected via a network. Each functional block of the business card management unit, the identification unit, the business card display unit, the browsing recording unit, and the change notification unit may be provided on the server side or may be provided on the user terminal side. It may be provided in both the server and the user terminal, and in that case, each functional block may have the same name. Each of these functions is provided in the form of a program module, and may be executed by one or both of the server and the user terminal.

Any combination of the above components,
What replaced the components and expressions of the present invention among methods, apparatuses, systems, computer programs, and the like is also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the present embodiment, when a person who browses an electronic business card registered in a server has not registered his / her own electronic business card, an opportunity to return his / her own electronic name is registered together with the business card registration. Offer the opportunity. To the audience,
The fact that the browsing is performed is notified, and if the browsing person is a registered person or a new registrant, the ID of the electronic business card is notified to the viewed person. When an electronic business card is browsed, it is recorded as a history, and when the content of the browsed electronic business card is changed, the viewer can receive a notification that the electronic business card has been changed.

As described above, new registration of an electronic business card can be efficiently promoted, and individual management of electronic business cards can be easily performed.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an electronic business card providing system. The electronic business card providing system 10 includes an Internet 16
And a plurality of user terminals 12 and an electronic business card providing server 14 which are connected to each other via the Internet.

The electronic business card providing server 14 and the user terminal 12 can be realized by hardware such as a CPU of a computer, and can be realized by a program having a data transmission / reception function in software. 2 and 3 to be described illustrate functional blocks realized by their cooperation. Therefore, these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by a combination of hardware and software.

The electronic business card providing server 14 may have a configuration including a web server, and the user terminal 12 may have a configuration including a personal computer and a web browser installed therein.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic business card providing server. The electronic business card providing server 14 includes a communication unit 20, a registration processing unit 22, a business card management unit 44, and a business card data holding unit 46. Each unit transmits and receives data to and from the user terminal 12 on the Internet 16 via the communication unit 20. The communication unit 20 may have a router function or a server function in addition to the data transmission / reception function.

The registration processing unit 22 processes a procedure for registering an electronic business card with the user terminal 12. The business card data holding unit 46 holds a plurality of registered electronic business cards.
The electronic business card includes data such as a business card ID, a name, a company name, a telephone number, and a face photograph. The business card management unit 44 manages the electronic business card registered in the business card data holding unit 46 in correspondence with the business card ID.

The registration processing unit 22 includes a registration confirmation unit 24, a new registration unit 26, and a registration notification unit 28. When there is a browsing request, the registration confirmation unit 24 inquires of the user terminal 12 whether or not the electronic business card of the browsing person has already been registered. In the case of registration, the input of the business card ID may be accepted, and in the case of unregistered information, the input of information on the identity of the viewer may be accepted.

The new registration unit 26 provides an unregistered viewer with an opportunity to register his / her own electronic business card. The new registration unit 26 may present a description for prompting new registration to the user terminal 12 or may provide an interface for easily performing new registration. For example, on the screen for browsing the electronic business card of a participant in a business meeting, even if a new registrant is offered the advantage of automatically sending information about the electronic business card of another meeting participant, and prompting for new registration, Good. The electronic business card registered by the new registration unit 26 is stored in the business card data storage unit 46 via the business card management unit 44.

The registration notifying section 28 notifies the user terminal 12 of the registrant of the electronic business card that the browsing user has browsed when the unregistered browsing person newly registers. When the registrant who has received the notification views the new electronic business card, the business card exchange is substantially realized.

The electronic business card providing server 14 includes the browsing processing unit 3
0, browsing history data holding unit 48, change processing unit 38, option management unit 80, and option data holding unit 86
Further included. Each unit transmits and receives data to and from the user terminal 12 on the Internet 16 via the communication unit 20.

The browsing processing section 30 is responsible for browsing electronic business cards with the user terminal 12. The browsing processing unit 30 includes an identification unit 32, a business card display unit 34, and a browsing recording unit 36.

The identification unit 32 receives an input of a business card ID from the user terminal 12 as a request to browse an electronic business card. The business card display unit 34 causes the user terminal 12 to display an electronic business card corresponding to the input business card ID as a response to the browsing request. The business card display unit 34 acquires an electronic business card from the business card data holding unit 46 via the business card management unit 44.

When the electronic business card is browsed, the browsing recording unit 36 records the correspondence between the viewer and the browsed electronic business card in the browsing history data holding unit 48. Viewing Recorder 3
6 notifies the user terminal 12 used by the registrant of the viewed electronic business card that the electronic business card has been viewed. The browsing history data holding unit 48 holds browsing history data of the electronic business card. The browsing history data may be recorded for each business card or for each registrant. The browsing history data holding unit 48
The browsing date may be recorded as a business card exchange date.

The change processing unit 38 is responsible for processing related to change of registration with the user terminal 12. Change processing unit 38
Includes a change notification unit 40 and a change reception unit 42. The change receiving unit 42 receives from the user terminal 12 a change in the content registered as an electronic business card. The change in the content of the electronic business card is reflected on the data held by the business card data holding unit 46 via the business card management unit 44.

The change notification unit 40 refers to the browsing history data holding unit 48 and detects a person who has viewed the electronic business card whose contents have been changed in the past. The change notification unit 40 notifies a past viewer of a change in the content of the electronic business card. For example, even when the registrant's department changes, if the user changes his / her business card registration, the change can be automatically notified to the related persons. The person who receives the notification does not need to update the business card album as when a new business card is received.

The option management unit 80 is a user terminal 12
Handles various optional service procedures between and. The option management unit 80 includes an option registration unit 82 and an option notification unit 84. The option registration unit 82
The registration of the option service is received from the user terminal 12, and the option data is registered in the option data holding unit 86. The optional services may be, for example, an electronic business card album registration, an e-mail address book registration, a conference registration to associate with other members, data synchronization with an electronic organizer, various notification settings, and the like. Option notification unit 84
Transmits information accompanying the optional service to the user terminal 1
Notify 2. For example, when an electronic business card is registered in a certain person's business card album, the option notification unit 84 may notify the registrant of the electronic business card that the album has been registered.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the user terminal. The user terminal 12 is a terminal used by a registrant or a viewer of the electronic business card, and includes a registration processing unit 50, a browsing processing unit 58, a change processing unit 64, and an option management unit 7.
2 and a communication unit 70. These operate in correspondence with the registration processing unit 22, the browsing processing unit 30, the change processing unit 38, and the option management unit 80 included in the electronic business card providing server 14 in FIG. I have. Each unit transmits and receives data to and from the electronic business card providing server 14 on the Internet 16 via the communication unit 20.

The user terminal 12 in the present embodiment is mainly assumed to be a computer on which dedicated software having the above-described functions is installed. However, the user terminal 12 is simply replaced with a web browser capable of inputting and displaying data. The above function may be realized in an appropriate manner.

The registration processing unit 50 processes a procedure for registering an electronic business card. The registration processing unit 50 includes a registration confirmation unit 5
2, a new registration unit 54 and a registration notification unit 56, which process procedures in correspondence with the registration confirmation unit 24, the new registration unit 26, and the registration notification unit 28 in the electronic business card providing server 14, respectively.

The browsing processing unit 58 is responsible for processing related to browsing electronic business cards. The browsing processing unit 58 includes an identification unit 60, a business card display unit 62, and a browsing notification unit 63, which are respectively the identification unit 32 in the electronic business card providing server 14,
The browsing is processed in correspondence with the business card display unit 34 and the browsing recording unit 36.

The change processing unit 64 is responsible for processing related to changing registration of an electronic business card. The change processing unit 64 includes a change notification unit 66 and a change reception unit 68, which process registration changes in correspondence with the change notification unit 40 and the change reception unit 42 in the electronic business card providing server 14, respectively.

The option management section 72 is responsible for processing related to the option service. Option management unit 72
Are the option registration unit 74 and the option notification unit 76
And an option registering unit 82 and an option notifying unit 84 in the electronic business card providing server 14, respectively.
Process optional services in response to

FIG. 4 shows a browsing reception screen. The browsing acceptance screen 90 displays a business card ID field 96 and a browsing screen switching button 98 together with a description for prompting the input of a business card ID. The browsing reception screen 90 further displays an explanatory note 92 for recommending registration to an unregistered person, and a button 94 linked to a new registration procedure screen.

FIG. 5 shows a browsing screen. Browse screen 100
Displays items registered as electronic business cards.
That is, the browsing screen 100 includes a business card ID 106, a name 108, a company name 110, an affiliation 112, a telephone number 114,
And a face photograph 116 are displayed. The browsing screen 100 further displays an explanatory note 102 for recommending registration and reply of an electronic business card to an unregistered person, and a button 104 linked to a new registration procedure screen.

FIG. 6 shows a conference report screen. Registration of the minutes is provided as an optional service. The conference report screen 118 includes the registered conference participant name 11
9 is displayed, and a browsing screen switching button 120 is displayed in the vicinity thereof.
And the conference recording surface switching button 122 is displayed. When the viewing screen switching button 120 is clicked, the screen is switched to an electronic business card browsing screen as shown in FIG. 5, and when the conference recording plane switching button 122 is clicked, a file of the conference record is opened.

FIG. 7 shows a new registration notification screen. This screen notifies the registrant of the electronic business card browsed by the new registrant of the new registration when there is a new registration. On the new registration notification screen 124, a registration date 126, a name 128, a company name 130, an affiliation 132, a browse screen switching button 134, and a conference record registration button 136 are displayed. When the conference record registration button 136 is clicked, the screen switches to the screen of FIG. 8 described below.

FIG. 8 shows a conference record registration screen. On the conference record notification screen 138, a conference date 140, a conference content 142, and a participant name 144 registered as a conference record are displayed, and a browsing screen switching button 146 and a conference recording plane switching button 148 are displayed.

FIG. 9 shows a business card printed on paper. On the business card 150, a business card ID 152 and an address 153 of an electronic business card browsing site are printed in addition to contents to be normally posted as business cards. The person who received this business card has the address 153
The user can browse the electronic business card by accessing the site indicated by (1) and entering the business card ID 152. Since the content registered as the electronic business card is almost the same as the content printed on the paper business card, the person who receives the business card can save the trouble of inputting such information to the business card management software or the like.

FIG. 10 shows a business card data table. The business card data table 153 includes information registered as an electronic business card, and is held by the business card data holding unit 46 in FIG. The business card data table 153 includes a business card ID column 154, a name column 156, a company name column 158, an affiliation column 160, a telephone number column 162, and a photo file name column 1
64 are included.

FIG. 11 shows a browsing history data table. The browsing history data table 166 includes information on the browsing history of the electronic business card, and is held by the browsing history data holding unit 48 in FIG. The browsing history data table 166 includes a business card ID column 168, a business card ID column 170 of a viewer, and a browsing date column 172.

FIG. 12 shows an album table. The album table 174 includes registration information for registering a plurality of electronic business cards as a business card album, and is held by the option data holding unit 86 in FIG. In the album table 174, a business card ID column 176, a registered business card I
A D column 178 and a conference record ID column 180 are included. The business card ID of the registrant is recorded in the business card ID column 176, and the business card ID of the album registration target is stored in the registered business card ID column 178.
Is recorded. When the registrant registers the minutes, the minutes ID is recorded in the minutes ID column 180.

FIG. 13 shows a conference record table. The meeting record table 182 includes various kinds of information related in the form of meeting record registration, and is held by the option data holding unit 86 in FIG. The conference record table 182 includes a conference record ID column 184, a date column 186, a participant ID column 188, and a conference record file name column 190.
The conference record ID column 184 records the conference record ID, and the date column 186 records the date of the conference. Participant ID column 18
8, a business card ID of a participant of the conference is recorded, and a file name of the conference record is recorded in the conference record file name column 190.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below.

FIG. 14 shows the flow of processing between a plurality of users and the electronic business card providing server 14. First, the first user performs his / her own business card registration procedure in the electronic business card providing server 14 (S10), and based on this, the electronic business card providing server 14 registers the electronic business card (S12). A business card ID is issued (S14). The first user prints his or her business card ID on a paper business card or the like and hands it to the second user (S16).

The second user who receives the business card ID inputs the business card ID to the terminal and browses the first user's electronic business card (S1).
8), the first user is notified of the browsing (S2
0). If the electronic business card of the second user has not been registered, the electronic business card providing server 14 recommends a new registration to the second user (S2).
2). If there is a new registration procedure based on this (S
24), the electronic business card of the second user is registered (S26).
A new business card ID is issued to the second user and (S
28), the first user is notified of the new registration (S30).

When the first user changes the contents of his / her own electronic business card (S32), the change of the contents is notified to the second user (S34).

FIG. 15 shows the flow of processing in the electronic business card providing system. First, a registration flag indicating whether or not the viewer is a registrant of the electronic business card is set to 0 (S50),
A browsing reception screen is displayed (S52). It is checked with the viewer whether or not the viewer is a registrant. If the viewer is a registrant (S54Y), the registration flag is set to 1 (S5).
6). If the person is not registered (S54N), the user confirms whether he / she wants to newly register his / her electronic business card (S54).
58). If the viewer wishes to register a business card (S58)
Y), and issue a new business card ID together with the business card registration (S6).
0), 1 is set to the registration flag (S62).

The input of the business card ID to be browsed is received (S6).
4) Display an electronic business card corresponding to the business card ID (S)
66). The registrant of the viewed electronic business card is notified that the electronic business card has been viewed (S68), and if the electronic business card of the viewer has already been registered (S70N), the business card ID is also notified (S71). If the electronic business card of the viewer has not been registered (S70Y), it is confirmed whether or not the user wishes to newly register his / her own electronic business card (S72). If the viewer wishes to register a business card (S72Y), a new business card ID is issued together with the business card registration (S74), and the registration is notified to the registrant of the electronic business card to be viewed (S76). .

The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. . Hereinafter, modified examples will be described.

In the present embodiment, the configuration is such that even a person who has not registered an electronic business card can view another person's electronic business card. In this case, the number of registered electronic business cards can be more efficiently increased.

[0057]

According to the present invention, exchange of electronic business cards registered on a network can be promoted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electronic business card providing system.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic business card providing server.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a user terminal.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a browse acceptance screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a browsing screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conference report screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a new registration notification screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conference record registration screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a business card printed on paper.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a business card data table.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a browsing history data table.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an album table.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a conference record table.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing between a plurality of users and the electronic business card providing server 14.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the electronic business card providing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 electronic business card providing system, 12 user terminal,
14 electronic business card providing server, 24 registration confirmation section, 2
6 new registration section, 28 registration notification section, 32 identification section,
34 business card display unit, 36 viewing and recording unit, 40 change notification unit, 42 change reception unit, 44 business card management unit.

Claims (4)

[Claims] When a first user's electronic business card registered on a server is detected as being viewed by a second user, an opportunity to register his / her own electronic business card with the second user is displayed on a browsing screen. The above interface is provided, and as a result, when the registration is made, the fact is notified to the first user, and the first user can view the electronic business card of the second user, so that the virtual A method for providing an electronic business card, which realizes effective business card exchange. 2. When detecting that a first user's electronic business card registered on a server is browsed by a second user, the first user is recorded as a presentation source and the second user is presented to a presentation destination. And when the content of the electronic business card is changed, the change is notified to the second user based on the record. A business card management unit that manages the registered electronic business card in association with the identification information; an identification unit that receives an input of the identification information as the electronic business card browsing request; and a response to the browsing request. A business card display unit for displaying an electronic business card corresponding to the input identification information; and a registration confirmation for inquiring of the viewer whether or not an electronic business card of the viewer is already registered when the browsing request is made. A new registration unit that provides an opportunity to register its own electronic business card to the viewer through an on-screen interface when it is confirmed that the electronic business card of the viewer is unregistered; A registration notifying unit for notifying a registrant of the electronic business card viewed by the viewer when the electronic business card of the user is registered, Place. 4. A business card management unit that manages a registered electronic business card in association with its identification information, an identification unit that receives an input of the identification information as a request for browsing the electronic business card, A business card display unit that displays an electronic business card corresponding to the input identification information, and a browsing recording unit that, when the electronic business card is viewed, records a correspondence between the viewer and the viewed electronic business card. An electronic business card providing device, comprising: a change notification unit that notifies the viewer of the change in the content of the electronic business card based on the correspondence when the content of the electronic business card is changed.